Caregiver Services
Take the Next Step
For more information on resources available through Coast Caregiver, please call (805) 569-8950, ext. 1. Our Santa Barbara offices are located at 2415 De La Vina Street. Support services are available throughout Santa Barbara, San Luis Obispo and Ventura Counties.
Caring for a loved one with a cognitive disorder or another disabling condition forever changes the lives of family and caregivers. There can be devastating effects on those providing long-term care at home: financial pressures, legal quandaries, health problems, and emotional turmoil. Coast Caregiver has several resources and support groups that can assist families in their time of need.
Coast Caregiver Resource Center
CCRC provides family and other unpaid caregivers with meaningful information, referral, consultation, and other support, enabling them to provide competent care to their loved ones at home. CCRC serves as a point of entry to services available to unpaid caregivers to ease the tremendous burden shouldered by families providing long-term care.
In particular, CCRC helps families through:
- Short- and long-term care planning
- Problem-solving consultations
- Specialized information on caregiving issues, impact of diagnosis, care options, and appropriate community resources
- Short-term counseling
- Training and retreats for caregivers
- Support groups
- Respite (substitute) care
Caregiver Counseling
Caregiver Counseling may be for you if you are an unpaid caregiver of an older adult, or of an adult of any age with cognitive impairment, and are struggling with any of the following:
- Stress, fatigue and unrelenting demands
- Anxiety or depression
- Taking care of yourself
- Controlling frustration
- Dementia-related behaviors
- Difficulties speaking with doctors
- Communicating with other family members
- Conflict about caregiving at home vs. in a facility
- Recovering from a loved one’s stroke
- Your loved one nearing the end of life
Coast Caregiver Resource Center has in-house and community counselors available to help.
Or, contact your family consultant directly:
- Olga Requenez (San Luis Obispo County) - (805) 534-9234
- Carol Bress (Santa Barbara County) - (805) 569-8950, ext. 4
- Brenda Birdwell (Ventura County) - (805) 370-8711
Respite (Substitute) Care Available for Unpaid Caregivers
If you are a family or friend caregiver in San Luis Obispo, Santa Barbara or Ventura County providing care at home for an adult with a cognitive impairment, you may be eligible for CCRC’s respite care. Respite Care includes brief periods of time when an aide can come into your home to provide substitute care, or, when the person you care for attends an adult day care program.
In San Luis Obispo and Santa Barbara Counties, respite care is also available for unpaid caregivers of older adults without cognitive impairment. Funding for this program is provided by the Central Coast Commission for Senior Citizens, Area Agency on Aging; Cottage Rehabilitation Hospital Foundation; San Luis Obispo County; and United Way of Santa Barbara County.
Caregiver Support Groups
Take the Next Step
For more information on resources available through Coast Caregiver Resource Center, call (805) 569-8950, ext. 1
Coast Caregiver Resource Center Support Groups provide educational, emotional and social support for caregivers. Caregivers learn strategies and skills to solve problems; to maintain their own personal, physical and emotional health; and to provide the best care they can for those who are dependent upon them.
Support group meetings are held in a variety of venues in the Tri-Counties and offered at no charge. Donations are gratefully accepted.
Stroke/Brain Injury Support Group
For family or friend caregivers of those recovering from stroke and other brain injury.
Project Re-entry, a weekly community reintegration and socialization program for stroke survivors, is held every Friday in an adjoining room from 10:00 a.m. to noon. Please contact Therapeutic Recreation at Cottage Rehabilitation Hospital, (805) 569-8999 ext. 82101 for more information about Project Re-Entry.
When: 3rd Friday of the month 10:15 – 11:30 a.m.
Where: Cottage Rehabilitation Hospital
Meisel Conference Room 1-2
2415 De La Vina Street
Santa Barbara
For more information: (805) 569-8950, ext. 4
Family Caregivers Self-Care Support Group
Family caregiving is emotionally, mentally and physically demanding and puts the caregiver at increased risk for health problems. Join other family caregivers for an opportunity to share ideas and learn how to care for yourself while you care for your loved one.
Sponsored by Coast Caregiver Resource Center. Funds provided by Area Agency on Aging and California Department of Health Care Services.
In Santa Maria:
When: 1st Wednesday of the month 10:30-12:00 p.m.
Where: Bethel Lutheran Church, 624 E. Camino Colegio, Santa Maria
Facilitator: Carol Bress, MA: CCRC Family Consultant. Call 805-569-8950, ext. 4 for questions.
In San Luis Obispo:
When: 1st Wednesday of the month 3:00-4:30 p.m.
Where: United Church of Christ, 11245 Los Osos Valley Road, San Luis Obispo
Facilitator: Olga Requenez, MS: CCRC Family Consultant. Call 805-534-9234 for questions.
Ventura Caregiver Support Group
This support group is open to all family members caring for loved ones.
The meeting room varies according to availability. Look for a goldenrod flyer taped to the door.
Co-sponsored with Community Memorial Hospital, and Alzheimer’s Association of the Central Coast.
When: 2nd Friday of the month 3:00 – 4:30 p.m.
Where: Community Memorial Hospital, 8th floor
147 North Brent Street
Ventura
Facilitator: Brenda Birdwell
CCRC Family Consultant
(805) 370-8711
Conejo Valley Stroke Support Group
Meetings are for stroke survivors, caregivers, family members, and friends. Attendees meet all together for about 30 minutes, and then separate in two rooms for the last hour, when there are two facilitators, one for survivors and one for caregivers.
Co-sponsored with Los Robles Hospital and National Stroke Association
When: 2nd and 4th Wednesdays 2:30 – 4:00 p.m.
Where: Los Robles Hospital
East Campus, Cafeteria
150 Via Merida
Westlake Village
Facilitator: Brenda Birdwell
CCRC Family Consultant
(805) 370-8711
Richard Randall
Coordinator
(805) 498-2632
Alzheimer's / Dementia Caregivers Support Group
Support group for all caregivers of those with dementia.
Supervised socialization of the person with dementia provided in adjoining room.
Co-sponsored with Alzheimer’s Association of the Central Coast
When: 3rd Thursday of the month 1:00 – 2:30 p.m.
Where: First Baptist Church
Activity Building
1900 Los Osos Valley Road
Los Osos, CA 93402
Facilitator: Olga Requenez
CCRC Family Consultant
(805) 534-9234
Dementia Caregivers Support Group
Facilitated meetings for family caregivers caring for a loved one with any kind of dementia.
Co-sponsored with Alzheimer’s Association of the Central Coast
Hosted by Belmont Village Assisted Living
For information call facilitator Brenda Birdwell, Family Consultant: (805) 370-8711
When: 2nd and 4th Tuesdays of the month 7:00 – 8:30 p.m.
Where: Belmont Village Assisted Living
(second floor Town Hall Meeting Room)
3680 North Moorpark Road
Thousand Oaks, CA 91360
Facilitator: Brenda Birdwell
CCRC Family Consultant
(805) 370-8711
Directions: Belmont Village is located just north of Olson Road on the east side of Moorpark Road in Thousand Oaks. The meetings are held on the second floor. Ask the concierge at the door for directions to the room.
Caregivers of Parkinson's Support Group
This support group provides emotional, educational and social support for caregivers. The group helps caregivers develop methods and skills to solve problems and encourages caregivers to maintain their own personal, physical and emotional health, as well as optimally care for a loved one with Parkinson's Disease.
Sponsored by Coast Caregiver Resource Center. Funds provided by Area Agency on Aging and California Department of Health Care Services
When: Last Wednesday of the month 10:00 – 11:30 a.m.
Where: Arroyo Grande
Call (805) 534-9234 for exact location
FREE
