Introducing Caregiver Backpacks

Caring for a loved one is one of the most important responsibilities and privileges a person could have, especially when a loved one has become aged or dependent on assistance. In an effort to help families care for their loved ones at home, the Allegheny County Department of Human Services and the Southwestern Pennsylvania Area Agency on Aging (AAA) are providing caregiver backpacks to libraries in the region, including Green Tree Public Library. These backpacks are specifically designed to give the caregiver with a variety of resources relevant to the nonprofessional, family caregiver.

Contents vary slightly from one backpack to another. Green Tree’s backpack includes the following items:

• The Emotional Survival Guide for Caregivers: Looking After Yourself and Your Family While Helping an Aging Parent by Barry J. Jacobs PsyD
• Finding Your Way: A Practical Guide for Family Caregivers by Dr. Linda Rhodes
• Chicken Soup for the Soul: Family Caregivers by Joan Lunden and Amy Newmark
• The Caregiver’s Guide to Self-Care: Help for Your Caregiving Journey by Jane Meier Hamilton MSN, RN
• Who Says Men Don’t Care?: A Man’s Guide to Balanced and Guilt-Free Caregiving by James V. Gambone, Ph.D and Rhonda Travland, M.S.
• Still Alice DVD
• Pamphlets

To reserve a backpack, type “caregiver backpack” into the catalog and place a hold as you would with books, DVDs and other materials. The backpacks can be sent to any member library of the Allegheny County Library Association and circulate for three weeks. If our library has a copy of the backpack available on our shelves, feel free to stop by and either check it out or browse the contents at the library.