Resources for Seniors and Family Caregivers in Oklahoma City

by Judie Schwerdtfeger

Family caregivers - those who take care of an older Oklahoman - do amazing work. As a Certified Senior Housing Professional - a real estate agent who helps those family caregivers and seniors in the sale of a family home and move to a new phase of life - I regularly come across folks who are engaged in this stressful (yet so important!) part of life.

Real Estate Services and Advice for Seniors and Family Caregivers in Oklahoma City

It's part of my job to know as much as possible about things that can make life a bit better and easier for both those caregivers and their loved ones. I wanted to use this blog post to provide information on some of the community resources available to family caregivers across Oklahoma.

The Lifespan Respite Grant Voucher Program

Respite vouchers help family caregivers in Oklahoma pay someone who has temporarily taken their place as a care provider. The Oklahoma Contracts and Coalition Unit of Aging Services provides vouchers to caregivers who are not eligible for other respite programs.

Contact:

Eleanor Kurtz

Programs Administrator

Phone:    (405) 521-4358    

Fax:       (405) 522-6738

The Voucher Respite Program

This is a voucher respite payment program for caregivers caring fulltime for older adults in Oklahoma with developmental disabilities.

Oklahoma Adult Day Services

Oklahoma City Adult Day Services is a community-based program designed to meet the needs of functionally impaired older persons, generally those aged 60 and over, through an individualized plan of care. The program assists participants to remain in the community, enabling families and other caregivers to continue caring for a senior adult at home.

ADvantage Services of Oklahoma

The ADvantage Program of the Home-and Community-Based Services provides Medicaid services to help people stay at home instead of going to a nursing home. The program assists frail elders and adults who have physical disabilities. The senior must first qualify for Medicaid.

Oklahoma City Veterans Administration Caregiver Support

National VA Caregiver Support Website

Oklahoma City VA Medical Center

If you're the family caregiver of a veteran in Oklahoma, the Veterans Administration provides a wide variety of resources to help not only the veteran, but also YOU - the family caregiver of a veteran. These include respite programs, the free, online workshop "Building Better Caregivers," and plenty of other assistance.


The caregiver Support Coordinators at the Oklahoma City VA Medical Center are:

Sandra Nikkel: 405-456-5569

Kelly White, LCSW: 405-456-5556

Oklahoma Respite Resource Network

The Oklahoma Respite Resource Network (ORRN) is a partnership  of public and private agencies 

working to improve support for families and caregivers by increasing the availability of respite care for all ages, including older adults and seniors.

Please feel free to contact me, Judie Schwerdtfeger - a Certified Senior Housing Professional - for advice on the unique needs of seniors and their families when the time comes to downsize to new housing or a new phase in life.

OKC House for Sale: 11900 Kimberlyn Rd, Oklahoma City, OK 73162