Many people provide care for a family member, friend, or neighbor without thinking of themselves as a "caregiver." You may simply think of yourself as a spouse, daughter, son, grandchild, relative, or friend helping someone you care about.

But if you regularly help another person with daily activities, medical needs, transportation, household tasks, finances, or personal care, you may be a caregiver—and support is available for you, too.

NIAAA helps family caregivers and grandparents and other relatives raising children throughout Boone, Carroll, DeKalb, Jo Daviess, Lee, Ogle, Stephenson, Whiteside, and Winnebago Counties.

Five Questions to Ask Yourself

  • Do you help with daily routines?
    Do you assist someone with regular tasks like bathing, dressing, eating, or moving around the house?

  • Do you manage medications or medical care?
    Do you organize pills, fill prescriptions, talk to doctors, or take someone to medical appointments?

  • Do you handle errands and household chores?
    Do you regularly cook meals, clean the house, do laundry, or go grocery shopping for someone else?

  • Do you manage their money or paperwork?
    Do you pay bills, write checks, handle insurance, or manage legal papers for another person?

  • Do you worry about their safety when you are apart?
    Do you regularly check in by phone or worry about whether a loved one is safe, has eaten, or has taken their medications?

 

If you answered "yes" to any of these questions, you may be a caregiver.

Whether you're caring for a spouse, parent, relative, friend, or other loved one, or you're a grandparent or other relative raising a child, you don't have to navigate everything alone. NIAAA can help you understand your options and connect you with support and resources.

Talk to Someone at NIAAA Complete the Caregiver Questionnaire

You're Not Alone

Every day, family caregivers provide essential support that helps older adults remain safe, independent, and connected to their communities.

Caregiving can be rewarding, but it can also affect your time, finances, relationships, work, health, and emotional well-being. Many caregivers spend so much time focusing on the person they care for that they overlook their own needs.

Grandparents and other relatives raising children can face many of the same pressures while also navigating schools, childcare, legal issues, finances, and the responsibilities of raising another generation.

Asking for help does not mean you cannot handle caregiving. It means you are finding the resources that can help you continue doing it.

You don't have to know which program you need before contacting NIAAA. Tell us what is happening, and we can help you determine where to start.

Available Services

Caregiving often involves many questions at once. You may be trying to find help at home, arrange transportation, understand Medicare or Medicaid, locate meal services, find housing options, or determine what assistance may be available to your family.

NIAAA's Information & Assistance staff can listen to your situation, help identify your needs, explain available programs, and connect you with appropriate resources.

We can help you explore services and resources such as:

  • Caregiver support
  • In-home and personal care services
  • Transportation
  • Home-delivered and congregate meals
  • Medicare and Medicaid
  • Prescription assistance
  • Financial assistance and public benefits
  • Housing and long-term care options
  • Legal assistance
  • Health and wellness programs
  • Local aging and disability resources

There is no fee for NIAAA Information & Assistance services.

You do not need to figure out which agency or program to call before contacting us. Helping you find the right place to start is part of what we do.

Contact NIAAA Learn More About Information & Assistance

Ready to Talk With Someone?

You Don't Have to Figure This Out Alone.

Maybe you know exactly what you need. Maybe you don't.
Either is okay.

NIAAA staff can listen to what is happening, answer questions, help you understand your options, and connect you with resources in your community.

Northwestern Illinois Area Agency on Aging

1111 S. Alpine Road, Suite 600
Rockford, IL 61108
Phone: 815-226-4901
Email: info@nwilaaa.org

Call NIAAA Make an Appointment Complete the Caregiver Questionnaire

Additional Caregiver Resources

These organizations provide additional information and resources for family caregivers and relatives raising children.

Illinois Family Caregiver Coalition

Find additional information, advocacy, education, and resources for family caregivers throughout Illinois.

Visit Illinois Family Caregiver Coalition

Grandparents & Other Relatives Raising Children

The Illinois Department on Aging provides information and resources for grandparents and other relatives who are raising children.

Visit Illinois Department on Aging

Already Received NIAAA Caregiver Assistance?

Tell Us About Your Experience

If you requested and received Caregiver GAP funding or Caregiver Respite funding, we would like to hear from you.

Your feedback helps NIAAA understand how caregiver services are working and where improvements may be needed.

Survey responses are confidential. We do not ask for identifying information.

Post-Caregiver-GAP Funding Survey
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Post-Caregiver-Respite Funding Survey
post--caregiver-respite-funding-survey