Providing care for a loved one can be both rewarding and challenging

Providing care for a loved one can be both rewarding and challenging

Caregiving comes in many forms. You may help a loved one with grocery shopping, transportation, medications, finances, or household tasks. You may provide hands-on care every day, coordinate services from across town, or support someone from hundreds of miles away through phone calls, appointments, online bill payments, and regular check-ins.

No matter what caregiving looks like for you, please know you are not alone.

When so much of your time and energy is focused on caring for someone else, it can be easy to put your own needs aside. Over time, the physical and emotional demands of caregiving can lead to stress, exhaustion, and burnout. Taking care of yourself isn't selfish, it helps you continue being there for the person whom you care about and depends on you.

At SWIRCA & More, we believe caregivers need care, too. Our caregiver community can connect you with information, resources, education, respite options, and emotional support to help make the caregiving journey a little easier.

Whether you are caring for a spouse, parent, family member, friend, or neighbor, or whether they live across the street or across the country, you don't have to figure everything out on your own. You are doing important work. Let us help support you while you do it.

How We Can Help

Every caregiving journey is different, and the support you need may change along the way. Through our TCARE Program, Caregiver Library, caregiver support groups, and Memory Café, we provide resources, education, connection, and encouragement to help make caring for someone you love a little easier.

TCARE Program

TCARE Program

Better care starts with self-care

TCARE (Tailored Caregiver Assessment and Referral) is a caregiver assessment tool that focuses on the needs of the family caregiver. Through a series of questions, we can determine those areas of stress that can lead to caregiver burnout. After an assessment has been completed, one of our Caregiver Care Managers will develop an individualized care plan to help the family caregiver manage their role and identity as a caregiver. Our staff will help get you connected to local support groups, counseling, caregiver support and education, financial assistance, benefits counseling, and respite to reduce stressors.

Interested in learning more or have a referral to pass along, please contact Linda Wright, Aging Supports & Services Supervisor, at lwright@swirca.org or (812) 492-7443.

Caregiver Library

Caregiver Library

The Caregiver Library is a welcoming space where caregivers and family members can sit, relax, and take a moment for themselves while accessing helpful information and resources.

Our growing collection includes materials on self-care, practical caregiving tips, and caring for loved ones with specific health conditions, with online resources coming soon.

Caregiver Support Group

The Caregiver Support Group (not Dementia-related) meets the second Wednesday of every month at 3:00 p.m. at SWIRCA. You do not need to register to attend these sessions. This is a safe place to discuss the stresses, challenges and rewards of providing care for a loved one.

For more information, please contact Linda Wright at 812-492-7443 or Lwright@swirca.org.

Virtual Caregiver Support Group

Can't make it out to SWIRCA for our Caregiver Support Group? Join us virtually on Zoom the third Tuesday of every month at 2:00 pm. For more information or the Zoom link, please contact Maggie Anderson at 812-492-7451 or mraley@swirca.org.

Dementia Caregiver Support Group

This group meets at the same time as the Living with Dementia Support Group. The caregivers meet in the Craig Conference Room at SWIRCA, while those living with Dementia, meet with the Living with Dementia Support Group in the Exercise Room of our Activity Center.

Both groups meet the last Monday of every month from 2:00 - 3:00pm. For more information, please contact Linda Wright at 812-492-7443 or Lwright@swirca.org.

Memory Café

A Memory Café is a safe and fun gathering that provides a relaxed environment for people living with dementia and their care partners. It meets once a month at SWIRCA & More or other pre-planned places in the community.

For more information, please contact Jodi Sander at jsander@swirca.org or (812) 492-7473.

Observation from a SWIRCA Team Leader

"This program continues to be a lifeline for caregivers facing the daily challenges of supporting loved ones with dementia and other chronic conditions. We've seen caregivers go from feeling overwhelmed and isolated to finding peace of mind simply by having someone to talk to, access to education, and connection to support groups and programs like the Memory Café.

For some, mental and emotional health has improved dramatically within just a few months, even when caregiving responsibilities remain the same. Others have shared that they finally feel heard and understood-some for the first time in their journey. Whether it's building confidence, reducing stress, or simply being reminded to care for themselves, TCARE is helping caregivers feel supported, empowered, and less alone."