The holidays can be a difficult time for many – financial pressures, stress, and emotional issues can feel overwhelming.

If you’re struggling this holiday season, we can  help. The Department of Health and Welfare offers an array of services ranging from food assistance to help with a substance use disorder or mental health crisis — and a whole spectrum of services in between.

988 Suicide and Crisis Lifeline

The 988 Suicide and Crisis Lifeline provides support to Idahoans who are experiencing a behavioral health crisis. Dialing 988 in Idaho leads callers to the Idaho Crisis and Suicide Hotline. Anyone experiencing thoughts of suicide, mental health issues, substance use crisis, or any other kind of emotional distress can call or text 988 all day every day. People can also dial 988 if they’re worried about a loved one who may need crisis intervention. For more information: https://call988idaho.com/

211 Idaho CareLine

The Idaho CareLine is a free, statewide community information and referral service. Simply dial 211 on your phone between 8 a.m. and 6 p.m. Mountain Time to get in touch with a community resource specialist who can help with a wide range of programs and services, including all of the programs and services listed below. For more information about the 211 Idaho CareLine visit https://healthandwelfare.idaho.gov/services-programs/211

Food assistance

The Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP), formerly known as the Idaho Food Stamps Program, helps low-income families buy the food they need to stay healthy. Learn more by visiting https://healthandwelfare.idaho.gov/services-programs/food-assistance/about-snap

Women, Infant, & Children (WIC) is a federally-funded supplemental nutrition program for Women, infants, and children up to the age of 5. The program’s goal is to help families by promoting healthy lifestyle choices. More about WIC: https://healthandwelfare.idaho.gov/services-programs/food-assistance/about-wic

Additional community food resources include the school lunch program, summer meal program, statewide food program, and emergency food assistance programs. For more information about, or to apply for, community food resource programs: https://healthandwelfare.idaho.gov/services-programs/food-assistance/school-lunch-program

Financial assistance

Aid to the Aged, Blind, and Disabled (AABD) program may be able to provide cash assistance for people who are 65 or older, blind, or disabled. Those who are eligible will receive a small payment each month to help with living expenses. More information: https://healthandwelfare.idaho.gov/services-programs/financial-assistance/about-aabd-cash-assistance

Temporary Assistance for Families in Idaho (TAFI) provides temporary cash benefits for eligible low-income families to help pay for food, clothing, shelter, and other essentials. More information: https://healthandwelfare.idaho.gov/services-programs/financial-assistance/about-tafi

Home and utility assistance is also available and includes a range of programs:

• Weatherize your home: https://healthandwelfare.idaho.gov/services-programs/financial-assistance/home-heating-and-utility-assistance/about-weatherization
• Heating assistance: https://healthandwelfare.idaho.gov/services-programs/financial-assistance
• Telephone assistance: https://healthandwelfare.idaho.gov/services-programs/financial-assistance
• The Low Income Household Water Assistance Program helps low-income families pay their water and wastewater bills. More info: https://healthandwelfare.idaho.gov/services-programs/home-heating-and-utility-assistance/about-water-assistance

Healthcare assistance

Medicaid offers healthcare coverage for people in a variety of life situations and an array of health needs, including coverage for low-income adults, children, pregnant women, the elderly, and people with disabilities. More info: https://healthandwelfare.idaho.gov/services-programs/medicaid-health

Most people with developmental disabilities live in their communities. However, when they also have complex needs that results in a crisis, there is currently limited access to effective treatment.

To address these gaps, the department is creating three new crisis system components to add to the existing system: residential, teaming, and capacity building. This new model will allow adults to access a full range of crisis care that supports them and allows them to remain in their communities whenever possible.

Residential: When treatment must be done outside of the person’s community, two new care settings are being implemented.

The first is an assessment, observation, and stabilization unit. This is for people with developmental disabilities who are in crisis and need intensive or urgent behavioral, mental health, and/or medical care.

The second setting, called step-down housing, is for those who are no longer in crisis but are not yet ready to move back into their homes in their local communities. Step-down housing will model community living. Residents will live in apartment-like units with one or two people in each unit.

Significant psychiatric, behavioral, and nursing services would also be available in this setting, but the primary focus would be to help residents grow the skills they need to successfully return home and receive services in their communities. 

This means that the state will transition away from using Southwest Idaho Treatment Center (SWITC) as a long-term residential care setting for people with developmental disabilities and instead the new care settings will focus on short-term crisis and stabilization.

Teaming: This project is creating new specialized clinical teams to support people in the community and in the new care settings when their needs cannot be met using traditional community or crisis services.

These teams will provide cross-systems planning, coordination, and emergency supports with the goal of keeping people in their communities whenever possible. These specialized clinical teams will be nationally certified in best practices and provide expert services to people in all types of care settings.

Capacity building: Increased community capacity to meet the needs of people with developmental disabilities will reduce the need for residential services. Strategies to increase capacity include:

• Creating support levels for people with exceptional needs
• Increased access to existing services
• Higher qualifications and/or training for providers
• Improved transition processes

What comes next

The department will seek approval from the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) to allow for Medicaid to pay for the services to support the new model.

The department also will bring a funding request to the Joint Finance-Appropriations Committee (JFAC) for a contract with Center for START Services. The request will fund a national certification to ensure adherence to best practices for the proposed teaming services. 

Then, to implement services needed for the new model, the department will engage in rule promulgation, including stakeholder feedback, and seek legislative approval.

I hope you have a safe and healthy weekend.

The Idaho Department of Health and Welfare is dedicated to strengthening the health, safety, and independence of Idahoans. Learn more at healthandwelfare.idaho.gov. 

An Ohio measles outbreak currently underway should serve as a clear reminder that it’s time to get our children caught up on vaccinations—particularly for those who may have slipped behind schedule during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Measles is a highly contagious respiratory disease that can result in severe, sometimes permanent, complications including pneumonia, seizures, brain damage, and even death. It’s caused by a virus that lives in the nose and throat mucus of an infected person and spreads easily through breathing, coughing, and sneezing.

While it’s one of the most contagious human viruses, it’s also almost entirely preventable through vaccination.

As of Tuesday, Dec. 13, the Ohio outbreak in and around Columbus had infected 74 people, most of them children who are unvaccinated (having zero doses of vaccine) or under-vaccinated (having had only one dose of a two-dose recommended vaccine). Of those cases more than half are among kids between 1 and 2 years of age, and more than a quarter of the patients required hospitalization. There have been no reported deaths.

In the United States as a whole, as of Dec. 8, 88 measles cases in five jurisdictions have been reported this year. The number is up sharply from the 49 cases reported in 2021 and 13 cases reported in 2020—and down considerably so far from the 1,274 reported in 2019 when several large outbreaks occurred in the United States.

There are currently no measles cases reported in Idaho, but it’s safe to say that public health officials are concerned. Measles anywhere is a threat everywhere, as the virus can quickly spread by infected people to multiple communities and across international borders.

Because measles is so contagious, communities should have a vaccination rate of at least 95 percent to keep the illness from spreading. Among children born during 2018 in Idaho, 93 percent had received their first dose of the measles, mumps, and rubella (MMR) vaccine by 24 months of age, and about 95 percent had received their first dose by 35 months of age.

However, a lower proportion of Idaho children receive their second MMR dose before entering Kindergarten and are not considered fully protected, making our vaccination rate lower than 95 percent among Idaho school-aged children.   

The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) recently warned about a drop in measles vaccination coverage in children during the COVID-19 pandemic, estimating that 40 million kids missed a measles-containing vaccine in 2021, including 25 million who missed their first dose and 14.7 million who missed their second dose.

In 2021, 22 countries experienced large outbreaks that have persisted into 2022. When combined with vaccination gaps, the outbreaks pose a threat everywhere. In 2021 there were an estimated 9 million cases and 128,000 deaths from measles worldwide.

The Ohio outbreak is believed to be tied to one of four separate cases over the summer among individuals who became infected after traveling to a measles-endemic country.

The message going into the holiday season of family travel and gatherings is clear. If you have a child who is 12 months of age or older, and not up to date with their measles, mumps, and rubella vaccine, please make every effort to get them vaccinated as soon as possible.

Sarah Leeds is the manager of the Idaho Immunization Program  in the Division of Public Health. She has served in this position since June 2019, focusing on increasing coverage among Idahoans of both routine and COVID-19 vaccines.

Follow the Department of Health and Welfare on Twitter, Facebook, and Instagram for updates and information you can trust.

The Idaho Department of Health and Welfare is dedicated to strengthening the health, safety, and independence of Idahoans. Learn more at healthandwelfare.idaho.gov. 

I’m pleased to announce that the Department of Health and Welfare’s (DHW) publication 2022-2023 Facts, Figures, and Trends is now available online.

This reference provides a robust look at DHW – who we serve, the services we provide, and how those services are paid for. It also provides information about the department’s budget – how much it gets, how much is spent, and who and what it is spent on.

For each of the department’s eight divisions, the book covers funds approved by the Legislature for the current state fiscal year as well as highlights and work done in the previous state fiscal year.

I use it often to remind myself about a specific program or to check some data. It’s a valuable tool for anyone who wants to have a better understanding of the work we do. The book is created each year by the Office of Communications, in close teamwork with all the divisions and councils.

Here are some of the highlights outlined in the book from state fiscal year 2022:

• SFY 2022 was the first full year of operation for State Hospital West, a 16-bed psychiatric facility for youth ages 12 through 17 in Nampa. State Hospital West opened in May 2021, replacing the adolescent unit at State Hospital South in Blackfoot. The new hospital allows the majority of patients to get help closer to home in the Treasure Valley. In SFY 2022, State Hospital West had 58 admissions, with an average length of stay between 50 and 60 days.
• During SFY 2022, Child and Family Services struggled to hire and keep social workers, who are critical to do the child welfare work. Bonuses, pay increases, and adjustments to working requirements were put in place to address the lack of social
  workers. Finally, more non-social worker employees were recruited to do many child welfare tasks.
• The Division of Licensing & Certification licensed 221 new facilities, homes, and agencies.
• The Division of Medicaid worked with hospitals and primary care providers to develop the Healthy Connections Value Care Program to move from traditional volume-based payments to value-based payments. Value-care organizations are responsible for controlling costs and improving health outcomes of their patients. This program went live on January 1, 2022.
• The Division of Public Health led a cross-department team to establish an Adverse Childhood Experiences Data Framework. The framework contains recommendations for sharing and using data regarding adverse childhood experiences, commonly called ACES, in a coordinated way across the department. The Division of Public Health also published two data reports showing how adverse childhood experiences impact Idahoans.
• Self-Reliance provided additional support through the American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) to Idaho child care providers. Having safe, affordable, and high-quality child care for families throughout Idaho allows parents to go to work while children are being cared for. The Idaho Child Care Program issued more than $34 million to the Idaho Community Program Grant. This grant helped groups provide activities that support student learning, learning loss, and behavioral health supports for children ages 5-13.

I encourage to take a look at the book.

I hope you have a safe and healthy weekend.

The Idaho Department of Health and Welfare is dedicated to strengthening the health, safety, and independence of Idahoans. Learn more at healthandwelfare.idaho.gov. 

Idahoans who haven't gotten a Star Card ID yet may want to start planning so they're ready for the deadline, which was recently extended to May 2025.

At that time Idahoans will need a Star Card, U.S. Passport, military ID, or some other form of REAL-ID compliant identification to enter federal buildings or board commercial airplanes.

To get a Star Card, Idahoans must provide a birth certificate or passport, social security card, and two proofs of Idaho residency such as a mortgage statement or current utility bill to the Department of Motor Vehicles.

For those who do not have passports, the Department of Health and Welfare's Bureau of Vital Statistics can provide copies of Idaho birth certificates for $16.

Birth certificate order processing times vary depending on the volume of requests. As requests increase, processing times may also increase. Those who wait until the last minute may encounter delays.

The Bureau of Vital Records and Health Statistics does not have a public counter, and all requests for certified copies of birth certificates must be submitted online or by mail. Go to www.healthandwelfare.idaho.gov/vitalrecords for information about how to submit a request and estimated processing times.

If you were not born in Idaho, visit https://www.cdc.gov/nchs/w2w/index.htm to access a list of U.S. vital records offices

The bureau can also help if there's a mistake on your birth certificate. As with requesting a copy of your birth certificate, act sooner than later to help ensure that mistakes are corrected in time for the new deadline.

Additional information is available at the following links:

• Department of Homeland Security: https://www.dhs.gov/real-id
• Idaho Transportation Department: https://itd.idaho.gov/starcard/
• DHW's Bureau of Vital Records and Health Statistics: www.healthandwelfare.idaho.gov/vitalrecords

Kathy Anderson has worked in the Bureau of Vital Records and Health Statistics for 14 years.

James Aydelotte has been bureau chief of the Bureau of Vital Records and Health Statistics for 16 years.

Follow the Department of Health and Welfare on Twitter, Facebook, and Instagram for updates and information you can trust.

I know the employees at the Department of Health and Welfare (DHW) work really hard to serve Idahoans. But I love it when that hard work is recognized on a national level.

Idaho’s Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP), formerly known as Food Stamps, helps low-income families buy the food they need to stay healthy. More than 122,400 Idahoans received benefits in October. The federal program is run in Idaho by the Division of Welfare / Self Reliance, which is part of DHW.

I’m very pleased to announce that our program continues to be a leader in the nation for timeliness and accuracy. The U.S. Department of Agriculture recently published a report that identifies and measures potential risks states may face as they transition to post-pandemic operations. The states were compared to each other and to national targets.

By all the measures, Idaho comes out in the top.

The report considered several different categories during the years of 2019, 2020, and 2021. The categories were customer service level, payment error rate level, SNAP participation trend level, waiver usage level (some states received COVID-19 SNAP waivers to help their programs during pandemic), and combined support level, which signals how unprepared a state might be for the end of the public health emergency.

Idaho was among the 14 states and territories out of 53 that would require no additional support to provide a high level of service for Idaho families when the public health emergency ends. For comparison, 25 out of 53 will require moderate support, and 14 out of 53 will require significant support when it ends.

This is wonderful recognition of the consistently excellent work employees in the Division of Welfare / Self Reliance do to process SNAP applications quickly and efficiently for Idaho families.

We don’t yet know when the federal public health emergency will end, but this means that struggling Idahoans will continue to get their benefits in a timely fashion. The national benchmark for processing SNAP applications is 30 days. In Idaho, hungry families typically receive their benefits within four days of applying.

If you are in need of food assistance, please visit https://healthandwelfare.idaho.gov/services-programs/food-assistance/apply-snap or call 877-456-1233.

I hope you have a safe and healthy weekend! 

The Idaho Department of Health and Welfare is dedicated to strengthening the health, safety, and independence of Idahoans. Learn more at healthandwelfare.idaho.gov. 

Public health officials around the country are reminding people that it's OK and appropriate to mask up. This is especially true entering the season of holiday parties and family gatherings.

COVID-19 continues to spread, and it's joined this fall and winter by higher levels of flu and RSV. All three are respiratory illnesses spread by saliva and droplets produced when people talk, cough, sneeze, and even breathe.

One sure-fire way to slow the spread of all three is to wear a quality, well-fitting mask when you are in crowded, indoor environments. N95 or KN95 masks are recommended for the highest protection, but the best mask is the one you’ll use, so get the most protective mask you can that fits well and is comfortable for you.

If you're sick, or you've been around someone who's sick, and you can't stay home, please consider wearing a mask in public. It protects those around you.

Likewise, don't judge those who choose to wear masks. Masks help protect vulnerable people who may be avoiding illness while fighting a severe disease like cancer or heart disease. Or they may be taking as many precautions as possible to protect a vulnerable loved one.

It’s clear that more people are getting sick. RSV has spiked in Idaho the last four weeks. Flu also swept across the U.S. this month, and we estimate high or very high activity in all but one of Idaho's seven public health districts. The percent positivity of COVID-19 tests done in the state and reported to public health also crept upward last week from 6.6 to 7.6 percent.

It's impossible to know how sick you might get from RSV, flu, or COVID-19, but we do know there are steps you can take to try to avoid getting them in the first place. There are vaccines that will help fight flu and COVID-19, and all three can be slowed or stopped when people wear masks.

Holiday parties include family and friends, some of whom may be vulnerable to these viruses that are already circulating. So please think about masking up, especially around very young or older people, and be compassionate and respectful of others who mask up, too.

Resources:

• CDC mask guidance: https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/prevent-getting-sick/masks.html
• COVID-19 in Idaho: https://coronavirus.idaho.gov/
• Flu in Idaho: https://www.gethealthy.dhw.idaho.gov/infectious-disease-idaho
• RSV in Idaho: https://www.gethealthy.dhw.idaho.gov/resp-synct

Elke Shaw-Tulloch is the administrator of the Division of Public Health, and the state’s public health officer. She has worked for the department since 1996 and was promoted to division administrator in 2012. Since February 2020, she has focused most of her time on responding to the coronavirus pandemic. 

Follow the Department of Health and Welfare on Twitter, Facebook, and Instagram for updates and information you can trust.

The Idaho Department of Health and Welfare is dedicated to strengthening the health, safety, and independence of Idahoans. Learn more at healthandwelfare.idaho.gov. 

Healthcare systems in rural areas like Idaho face unique challenges. More than 88 percent of Idaho is classified as rural. DHW’s Bureau of Rural health and Primary Care is working to confront those challenges in several ways.

More than 98 percent of Idaho faces a shortage of primary care professionals, and more than 95 percent of the state doesn’t have enough dental health professionals to serve their communities. One-hundred percent of Idaho has too few mental health professionals.

To work toward improving these numbers, the Bureau of Rural Health and Primary Care offers programs and resources to improve access to healthcare in rural and underserved areas.

These efforts include clinician recruitment and retention programs such as loan repayment programs when they decide to practice in Idaho for a certain amount of time and in health professional shortage area designations. Efforts also include education and resources for critical access hospitals, rural health clinics, and free medical clinics, as well as support for the transition to value-based healthcare from fee-for-service care. 

To help draw attention to these statewide challenges, Idaho Gov. Brad Little signed a proclamation on Thursday, Nov. 17, to honor National Rural Health Day. The proclamation draws attention to the “distinct and critical role” the Bureau of Rural Health and Primary Care and Idaho Rural Health Association play by leading efforts to meet rural Idahoans’ unique healthcare needs.  

Idahoans who live in rural communities  tend to be older, more likely to be uninsured or underinsured, have a greater number of chronic illnesses, and are more likely to have poorer health behaviors because they have limited access to healthy foods and physical activity.

Rural residents are more likely than those who live in urban areas to die early from all five leading causes of death: heart disease, cancer, unintentional injury, chronic lower respiratory disease, and stroke.

Health services, meanwhile, do more than help rural Idahoans stay healthy. They are important economic engines. Health services contribute significantly to disease prevention and management and play a vital role in supporting state and local economies.

In Idaho, the average doctor supports an estimated 12 jobs and generates about $1.9 million in economic benefits for their communities. Improving healthcare for Idahoans also means strengthening Idaho’s rural economies.

For more information about how the Bureau of Rural Health and Primary Care is working to improve healthcare in rural parts of the state visit ruralhealth.dhw.idaho.gov.

Gina Pannell is bureau chief of the Bureau of Rural health and Primary Care in DHW’s Division of Public Health.

The Idaho Department of Health and Welfare is dedicated to strengthening the health, safety, and independence of Idahoans. Learn more at healthandwelfare.idaho.gov. 

Tamara Prisock, administrator for the Division of Licensing and Certification (L&C) and a member of the department’s senior leadership team, is retiring today. She has worked for the department for 37 years in various roles, and for the last 10 years in her current position.

In her time as the administrator for L&C, Tamara has transformed it into a division focused on the people we serve. The division makes sure that Idaho healthcare facilities follow federal and state laws and rules. Staff oversee licensing and certification activities for 20 types of healthcare providers, including home health agencies, hospitals, residential assisted living facilities, nursing homes, hospice agencies, and others. The division does its work in ways that promote peoples’ rights, well-being, safety, dignity, and the highest level of functional independence.

In addition to being division administrator, Tamara has also been the Rules Unit manager for the department since 2008.

Serving the public is very important to me. I’m always interested in hearing from others who have that same commitment, especially those who have years of public service experience. Here's a short Q&A with Tamara, from earlier this week.

What are two or three things you’ve learned in your time with the department?

I’ve learned that the breadth of the services DHW provides to Idahoans also provides infinite opportunities for those DHW employees who take it upon themselves to learn about what the department does outside of their own team or division and who keep themselves open to taking on new challenges, even when it seems scary.

I have also learned that the unflattering perceptions the general public might have about state employees is absolutely untrue when it comes to the people who work at DHW. Over the years, I have worked with some of the most talented, compassionate, and dedicated people on the planet. DHW employees truly care about the people we serve.

Is there anything you would do differently now, based on what you’ve learned?

Over the years, I have become a huge fan of public engagement when developing rules and policies. If I could do something differently, it would be to recognize the importance of that work from Day 1. Sometimes in state government, when we have so much work to do and limited resources, we can view public engagement as extra work we don’t have time to do. Working with the public to develop our rules and policies is essential to ensuring what we do really makes a difference in the lives of Idahoans.

What compelled you to come to work every day? Why do you feel this work is important?

During the 37 years I have been with DHW, I’ve been so fortunate to have the opportunities to work in so many areas of the department.

By far the most difficult job I have had at DHW has been the job I am leaving now – the Licensing and Certification administrator.

The other side of that coin is that is has also been the most rewarding job. The work done in this division directly contributes to the health and safety of some of the most vulnerable people in the state.

 As the division’s administrator, I also had the advantage of seeing how our amazing survey staff performed their work with commitment and compassion despite having to deal with the negative perceptions that come with performing regulatory work.

As Tamara is moving on, she is leaving the division in a good place and in good hands. Laura Stute is the new L&C administrator, and she joins the department after working for 18 years with the Saint Alphonsus Health System.

Tamara, thank you for your distinguished and dedicated service to DHW and to Idahoans.

The Idaho Department of Health and Welfare is dedicated to strengthening the health, safety, and independence of Idahoans. Learn more at healthandwelfare.idaho.gov. 

Family caregivers represent more than one in five Americans, and that number continues to grow as the population increases and more people are diagnosed with debilitating disorders that require daily care. In Idaho, there are more than 300,000 caregivers, with 70 percent also working full- or part-time jobs while providing that care.

What is a family caregiver?

Family caregivers can be relatives or chosen family who provide care to people of any age, and sometimes provide care to multiple people at the same time.

Most people have either been caregivers, are now caregivers, will be caregivers, or will come to rely on a caregiver in the future. However, many caregivers don’t know that what they are doing has a name, or that the care they provide is of value.

Caregiving has clear benefits, but it can be taxing for people giving care. According to a 2020 report published by the AARP Public Policy Institute, caregivers are in worse health today than they were just seven years ago.

In Idaho 73.7 percent of caregivers reported having chronic health conditions, and 30.8 percent reported being depressed.  While many caregivers find providing care rewarding, they can experience a phenomenon called “caregiver stress,” which results from the many tasks and responsibilities taken on when they provide care.

November is National Caregivers Month and an opportunity to talk about some realistic ways caregivers can care for themselves. Below are nine important tips.

Seek support from other caregivers

Caregiving can be an isolating experience, but Caregivers don’t have to do it alone. Being able to talk with others who understand what caregivers are going through reduces stress, validates experiences, and gives connection and support.

There are a number of groups and organizations that support caregivers by offering a range of services and creating community and support groups.

The  Idaho Caregiver Alliance’s resource page is a great resource where caregivers can find contact information for a variety of caregiver groups: https://idahocaregiveralliance.com/resource-library/

Take care of your own health

Self-care is not selfish. Caregivers need to pay attention to physical and emotional symptoms that can affect their own health and wellbeing. Guarding against burnout and exhaustion increases the caregiver’s ability to ward off illness and provide quality to the care recipient.

Try to create balance between caring for others and caring for you. You can do this by:

• Get regular check-ups and don’t ignore  the signs of illness
• Take a break from caregiving
• Get exercise
• Get a flu shot
• Watch for signs of depression
• Laugh with a friend
• Take a daily vitamin supplement

To build a personalized caregiver plan reach out to the Idaho Family Caregiver Navigator Project: https://caregivernavigator.org/

Accept help and suggest specific things people can do to help

Caring for another person requires a significant investment of time and emotion, and that can eat into your responsibilities and peace of mind.

Some people have a hard time admitting they need help. They feel guilty thinking they can’t juggle everything themselves, or they believe no one else can do their job as well as they can. They forget that the totality of caregiving is made up of lots of individual tasks, not all of which are the same importance, or require the same skills.

Make a list of your responsibilities and categorize them, then ask for help with the list in hand so others can easily identify how to pitch in. Without clear communication, family members or friends may perceive that you have everything under control and don’t want to offend you or step on your toes. Others may need you to delegate specific tasks.

More tips about how to ask for help: https://www.caregiveraction.org/defining-help-you-need

Powerful Tools for Caregivers is a class offered in person or virtually across Idaho. It can help caregivers build the skill of delegation and accepting help: https://www.agingstrong.org/

Learn how to communicate effectively with doctors

Caregivers serve as a vital member of the healthcare team. If there are things getting in the way of you providing quality care to the person you are caring for, talk to their healthcare provider and develop a plan about how to improve the situation.

Remember, the federal law that protects the privacy of healthcare information, called HIPAA, does not prevent a healthcare provider from listening to a caregiver or receiving information from a caregiver regarding the patient’s history, treatment, or symptoms.  

Additional resources about how to communicate with medical professionals: https://www.caregiveraction.org/resources/how-talk-your-doctor

Caregiving is hard work so take respite breaks often

Replenishing reserves is an important skill when learning how to effectively care for another. Respite care may be planned or emergency, in-home or elsewhere, for a few hours or a few weeks. The purpose, however, remains the same, and that is to rest, recharge, and remember that there’s life beyond caregiving.

More information about respite: https://idahocaregiveralliance.com/resource-library/

Watch out for signs of depression

Some signs of depression include:

• Withdrawal from friends, family, and other loved ones
• Loss of interest in activities previously enjoyed
• Feeling down, irritable, or helpless
• Changes in appetite, weight, or both
• Changes in sleep patterns
• Emotional and physical exhaustion

Many caregivers whose lives have been radically and unexpectedly changed by caring for a loved one who is ill or disabled slip into a depressive state, but they don’t have to live under a dark cloud. Depression is an illness that can be managed.

If you’re feeling depressed and it is impairing your life and the care you provide, the first and most important step is to seek help. Simply telling a friend or family member about one’s feelings or making a list of all the things that seem off can start the process, and be a catalyst to getting the care you need and deserve.

For more about caregivers struggling with depression: https://www.caregiveraction.org/caregivers-and-depression

Organize medical information

One of the most important things a caregiver can do is create and maintain a comprehensive medical file about the person they’re caring for. Whether paper, electronic, or both, the information should be easy to update and share.

For a list of items to consider putting in the medical file: https://www.caregiveraction.org/patient-file-checklist

Make sure legal documents are in order

Similar to maintaining a medical file, caregivers should also organize and maintain a file of legal documents that includes information about maintaining a loved one’s finances or legal affairs. This may include power of attorney, living will, bills, deeds, stock and bond statements, and so-on.

Give yourself credit for doing the best you can in one of the toughest jobs there is

Last but far from least, caregivers should pause and give themselves credit for doing one of the most challenging jobs there is. People understand you’re not  doing it for credit, but you deserve a moment of gratitude.

Caregivers contribute to the fabric of communities and society at large. Resilient communities are comprised of people who can rely on each other, and caregivers should learn to rely on one another and remember to care for themselves, as well as care for their care recipient.

Although November is National Family Caregivers Month, I want you to know that I am continuously grateful for the time, energy, and care you give to keep our Idahoans safe and loved.

Tiffany Robb is health program manager for Alzheimer’s Disease and Related Dementias in the Division of Public Health.

The Idaho Department of Health and Welfare is dedicated to strengthening the health, safety, and independence of Idahoans. Learn more at healthandwelfare.idaho.gov.