Family Caregiver Guide: Finding Help in Franklin County

Resources for caring for aging loved ones, people with disabilities and your family

One day you're helping with a doctor's appointment or picking up a prescription. Then you're managing medications, insurance questions, meals, transportation, appointments and decisions you never expected to make.

Or maybe caregiving has always been part of your family's life. You may be raising a child with significant medical or support needs, helping an adult child with a disability, caring for a spouse, supporting an aging parent — or doing more than one of these at the same time.

However you arrived here, you don't have to know all the right words before you can start looking for help.

This guide is designed to help Franklin County-area families figure out what kind of help they may need, what resources exist and where to start.

🌱 Where Do I Start?

First, you don't need to solve everything today.

Start by figuring out what the person you care for needs and what you can realistically provide. Consider daily activities such as bathing, dressing, meals, medications, mobility, transportation, finances and whether the person can safely be left alone.

Then begin gathering the information that other people may need to help:

• Current medications and allergies
• Doctors and specialists
• Insurance information
• Emergency contacts
• Important diagnoses and medical history
• Legal documents and decision-makers
• People who can provide backup help
• Upcoming appointments

Don't forget to assess your own situation. Are you physically able to provide the care being asked of you? Are you working? Raising children? Managing your own health needs? Do other relatives live nearby? What would happen if you became sick?

Pennsylvania's PA CareKit is an excellent place to start. It includes caregiver guides, worksheets, planning tools and resources for different caregiving situations.

🏠 Help at Home

Wanting someone to remain at home doesn't mean the family has to provide every bit of care alone.

Depending on the person's needs and eligibility, help might include personal care, companion care, home health, meals, transportation, adult day services, respite, emergency-response systems, equipment or home modifications.

Some of these terms sound similar but mean very different things:

Companion care may provide supervision, social interaction, errands or transportation.

Home/personal care generally helps with daily activities such as bathing, dressing, meals and other non-medical needs.

Home health involves skilled medical services such as nursing or therapy when eligibility requirements are met.

Respite is temporary care that gives an unpaid caregiver time away from caregiving responsibilities.

If you aren't sure which one you need, that's another good reason to begin with the Area Agency on Aging or PA Link rather than calling agencies at random.

🥗 Meals, Transportation & Everyday Needs

Sometimes the thing keeping someone from living safely at home isn't medical care at all. It's getting to appointments, preparing food, obtaining equipment or having someone check in.

The Franklin County Area Agency on Aging offers or connects eligible older adults with services that can include home-delivered meals, transportation assistance, personal emergency-response services, caregiver support and other programs.

The county also maintains a Loaner Closet with medical supplies and equipment available to adults age 60+ based on need and availability. Before purchasing equipment out of pocket, it's worth asking whether a lending or assistance program is available.

♿ Caring for Someone With a Disability

Caregiving isn't only about aging.

Parents and family members may provide lifelong care to a child or adult with an intellectual disability, developmental disability, autism, physical disability or complex medical needs.

For eligible individuals, Franklin/Fulton Intellectual & Developmental Disabilities provides supports coordination. A Supports Coordinator can help families identify needs, develop an Individual Support Plan, explore Medicaid Home and Community-Based Waiver services and connect with other supports. Services depend on eligibility, funding and availability.

🦽 Equipment, Technology & Making Home Safer

A grab bar, communication device, fall alert, adaptive equipment or other technology can sometimes make the difference between struggling through a task and doing it safely.

TechOWL, Pennsylvania's assistive-technology program, offers free demonstrations and consultations and a statewide lending library where Pennsylvanians can try assistive technology before purchasing it.

If the home itself isn't working anymore, ask about assistance for modifications and accessibility before assuming the family must pay entirely out of pocket. Depending on eligibility and the program involved, assistance may be available for certain modifications, assistive devices or safety equipment.

💳 Medicare, Medicaid & Paying for Care

This is one of the most confusing parts of caregiving, and you do not need to become an insurance expert.

One important distinction: Medicare generally does not pay for long-term custodial care when that's the only type of care someone needs. Coverage for skilled nursing, rehabilitation and home health has its own eligibility requirements.

Medicaid/Medical Assistance, long-term-care programs, waiver programs, veterans benefits, long-term-care insurance and other programs may become part of the picture depending on the person's circumstances.

🏥 The Hospital Is Sending My Loved One Home — Now What?

Hospital discharge can turn someone into a caregiver almost overnight.

Before leaving, make sure you understand:

• What the person can and cannot safely do independently
• Every medication change
• What equipment must be in the home
• Whether home health or therapy has been ordered
• Whether rehabilitation or skilled nursing should be considered
• Follow-up appointments and who schedules them
• Who to call if there's a problem after discharge
• What symptoms mean you should seek immediate medical help

And if someone expects you to perform a caregiving task you don't know how to do, say:

“Please show me how, and let me practice before we leave.”

Don't be afraid to say that you cannot safely provide a certain level of care. That information matters when planning a safe discharge.

🧠 Dementia & Memory Changes

Caring for someone with Alzheimer's disease or another form of dementia can introduce additional concerns involving medication, wandering, driving, communication, home safety, supervision and caregiver fatigue.

If you're noticing significant memory or behavioral changes, start with the person's healthcare provider rather than assuming the changes are simply part of normal aging.

Caregiver support groups can also be especially valuable because they connect families with people who understand the day-to-day realities of dementia caregiving.

😴 I Need a Break: Understanding Respite

Needing a break does not mean you're failing as a caregiver.

Respite simply means someone else safely takes over caregiving responsibilities temporarily. Depending on the situation, that might happen in the home, through an adult day program, through disability services or in another care setting.

Pennsylvania's Caregiver Support Program can provide caregiver support, education and training and, for eligible participants, assistance with certain caregiving expenses including respite and supportive services.

Because eligibility differs depending on whom you're caring for and which program applies, start with the Area Agency on Aging, PA Link or your Supports Coordinator rather than assuming you won't qualify.

💼 When You're Trying to Work and Be a Caregiver

Caregiving doesn't stop during the workday.

Before automatically using all of your vacation or personal time, check your employer's policies and benefits. Ask about:

• Family and Medical Leave Act (FMLA) eligibility
• Intermittent leave
• Flexible or adjusted schedules
• Remote-work options
• Employee Assistance Programs (EAPs)
• Caregiver or dependent-care benefits
• Paid or unpaid leave options

Not every employee or caregiving relationship qualifies for FMLA, so talk with your employer or HR department about your specific situation.

👨‍👩‍👧‍👦 When You're Caring for Everyone

Some caregivers are raising children while also caring for a parent, relative, spouse or another adult. Others may be parenting a child with significant needs while helping an aging family member.

That can mean trying to be a parent, spouse, employee, chauffeur, medical coordinator, insurance navigator and caregiver all at once.

You may not be able to do everything everyone wants from you — and that makes planning and sharing responsibilities especially important.

Consider:

• What can another family member take over completely?
• Can appointments or transportation be divided?
• Who can be the backup caregiver?
• What tasks could a friend or neighbor realistically help with?
• Which responsibilities truly require you?
• What support is available through work?
• When can respite or paid assistance replace family caregiving?

Instead of asking someone to “help more,” try assigning a specific responsibility: Tuesday transportation, prescription pickup, grocery delivery or one medical appointment each month.

🏡 When Home Is No Longer Enough

Sometimes needs increase beyond what can safely or realistically be provided at home.

Care options can include personal care/assisted living, memory care, skilled nursing, rehabilitation and other long-term supports.

If you're comparing nursing homes, don't rely only on a beautiful tour or a single recommendation. Use Medicare Care Compare to review Medicare-certified facilities, including information about inspections, staffing and quality measures.

Visit facilities when possible. Ask about staffing, response times, meals, activities, medical needs, dementia care, costs, what's included, communication with families and what happens as a resident's needs change.

⚖️ If Something Doesn't Feel Right

If a loved one lives in a long-term-care setting and you're concerned about their care, the Franklin County Long-Term Care Ombudsman can help residents and families understand resident rights and work through complaints or concerns.

Concerns involving suspected abuse, neglect, exploitation or abandonment should be reported through the appropriate protective-services channel. If someone is in immediate danger, call 911.

📋 Legal Documents & Decision-Making

Being someone's caregiver does not automatically give you legal authority to make every medical or financial decision for that person.

Depending on the situation, families may encounter:

• Healthcare powers of attorney
• Financial powers of attorney
• Advance directives/living wills
• Guardianship or alternatives to guardianship
• Authorized representatives
• Social Security representative payees

These roles are not interchangeable, and legal questions should be discussed with a qualified professional.

Related Macaroni KID resource: Our Family Estate & Life Planning Guide goes deeper into the documents families may want to organize before an emergency happens.

❤️ Who's Taking Care of the Caregiver?

Caregiver support needs to mean more than being told to “practice self-care.”

You may be tired. Angry. Guilty. Lonely. Frustrated with siblings who aren't helping. Worried about money. Missing work. Neglecting your own appointments. Or simply wondering how long you can keep doing everything you're doing.

Those are caregiving issues too.

Support might mean:

• Respite care
• A caregiver support group
• Counseling
• Asking family members to take ownership of specific responsibilities
• Using an adult day program
• Talking with your employer
• Accepting paid or community support
• Keeping your own medical appointments
• Creating boundaries around what you can realistically provide

🌿 Palliative Care, Hospice & End-of-Life Planning

Palliative care and hospice are not the same thing.

Palliative care focuses on comfort, symptoms, stress and quality of life during serious illness and may be provided alongside treatment.

Hospice provides comfort-focused care for people who meet hospice eligibility requirements near the end of life.

These conversations can be difficult, but discussing wishes before a crisis can make future decisions clearer for everyone involved.

⭐ A Few Places Worth Bookmarking

PA CareKit
Pennsylvania caregiver guides, worksheets, checklists and planning resources.

Franklin County Area Agency on Aging
A starting point for local aging services, caregiver support, Medicare counseling, meals, transportation, equipment and other programs.

PA Link
Navigation for older adults, people with disabilities and their families when you're not sure which service or program you need.

Franklin/Fulton IDD
Local starting point for eligible individuals with intellectual/developmental disabilities and their families.

TechOWL
Assistive-technology information, demonstrations and lending resources for Pennsylvanians.

Medicare Care Compare
Compare Medicare-certified nursing homes, home-health agencies, hospice providers and other healthcare providers.

💚 More Help for Local Families

Looking for food assistance, housing help, mental-health resources or other family supports? Visit our Community Resources for Local Families Guide.

Information in this guide is intended as a starting point for families and is not medical, legal, financial or insurance advice. Program availability and eligibility can change. Please confirm current information directly with the appropriate agency or provider.

This guide was developed using public information from government agencies, community organizations and other trusted resources, with AI assistance used to help research, organize and draft the information. Resources were reviewed for relevance at the time of publication.