Bay Aging has partnered with the Benjamin Rose Institute on Aging (BRI) to offer support to unpaid caregivers who reside in Virginia’s Middle Peninsula and Northern Neck. Bay Aging is offering scholarships to local caregivers to permit them to participate in BRI’s Care Consultation program, free of charge. BRI Care Consultation™ is an evidence-based program that helps caregivers create an action plan, connect with community services, and communicate with family and friends about difficult conversations related to care. The program is open to caregivers of all ages, including but not limited to persons caring for those with dementia. Interested caregivers should call Bay Aging at 800-493-0238.

Our community is experiencing a caregiver crisis – with an aging population, the need for care has outpaced the availability of paid caregivers, leaving the brunt of caregiving to fall on the shoulders of unpaid family and friends. In response, the Bay Aging Foundation Board has made caregiver support a priority for FY2022 and beyond. The Foundation will focus its fundraising efforts on caregiver support and memory care; funding professional counseling services from BRI is a first step, with additional services to be announced in the near future.
“25% of the people who live in Bay Aging’s service area (Middle Peninsula and Northern Neck) are age 65 and older, whereas only 15.9% of Virginia’s population is 65 and up,” stated Ron Saunders, a longtime Gloucester resident who serves as Secretary of the Bay Aging Foundation Board. “More than 31% of Mathews County and Middlesex County’s residents are 65 and over. Most older adults want to age in place, and I’m proud that the Bay Aging Foundation is committed to helping our friends and neighbors live at home for as long as possible. Caregiver support is an essential part of that mission. I encourage caregivers who feel overwhelmed, uncertain or alone to give Bay Aging a call.”