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County supervisors push support for caregivers

SAN JOSE – In May, the Santa Clara County Board of Supervisors adopted County staff recommendations to address the shortage of resources and support in adult caregiving. These efforts are the first batch of recommendations that arose from an Adult Caregiver Study published in August 2023.

The caregiver study, which resulted from a proposal by County Supervisors Joe Simitian and Cindy Chavez, painted a full picture of the state of adult caregiving in Santa Clara County, and provided recommendations to address the issues and barriers identified in the study. At the urging of Supervisor Simitian, County staff were directed to report to the Board on ways to support the top two priority categories in the study: (1) Information and Referrals and (2) Caregiver Respite. 

“Caring for a loved one is a difficult responsibility for anyone, especially for those where the duty has been unexpectedly thrust upon them,” said Simitian. “The recommendations in this study are a step in the right direction — providing the information new caregivers need, and hopefully, simplifying a process that can be complex.”

A huge barrier for new caregivers is simply knowing where to start. Santa Clara County Community Resource Guide, 2-1-1, and Sourcewise (the local Area Agency on Aging) all have their own lists of programs and resources. As a further complication, Sourcewise and the Silicon Valley Independent Living Center have been granted status as an Aging and Disability Resource Connection (ADRC) by the State of California, and the combined entity has its own information and resources for caregivers. 

Another barrier identified was the difficulty of matching those who need care to available caregivers. There are many adults who require care but do not have family to help them. 

To address these two issues, the study had the following recommendations:

  • Establish an ongoing caregiver information and referral workgroup tasked with defining and distinguishing the roles between 2-1-1 and the ADRC; develop a list of the top 10 to 20 services caregivers need, including for individuals with dementia; and maintain this list updated. In addition, the County’s Seniors Agenda, with input from the workgroup, will launch a marketing campaign to raise awareness of this work in November 2024. The workgroup will also map current caregiver registry options related to community needs, including their strengths and weaknesses.

  • Establish a direct care worker registry for care recipients and their families to improve the information and referral system. An important registry feature is the inclusion of background checks on all care providers for older and disabled adults. The costs of the background checks would be included as part of the registry’s ongoing cost.

  • Establish a respite care subsidy to launch in April 2025. The subsidy will be based upon the Elder Economic Security Index, and for the participating caregivers, the subsidy will range from $500 to $1,250 per month. The subsidy will differ from the existing Adult Day Services Pilot Program in that participants can choose the type of care that best meets their needs, and includes out-of-home care, home care agencies, and private caregivers.

Additionally, to support respite care and advocacy for older adult issues in general, the County’s Senior Care Commission will be strengthened. 

“I want to acknowledge County staff for a thorough study. Many of the recommendations are no-to-low cost,” said Simitian. “However, I exhort staff, especially in this challenging budget climate, to not use budgetary challenges as a reason to not do the right thing. I look forward to hearing back from staff before the end of year with a progress report and additional recommendations.”