Long-Term Illness and Family Encouragement (LIFE)

The Lifelong Illness and Family Encouragement (LIFE) Ministry began in 2008 to provide emotional and spiritual support to family caregivers and their loved ones.

The ministry was founded in response to the increasing number of New Bethel members who were caring for ill, disabled or elderly family members. Family caregivers are identified by the U.S. Administration on Aging as adults - 18 and above - who care for family or friends for little, if any, financial compensation.

Caregiving may include errand running, transportation to medical appointments, daily routine of personal hygiene or nonmedical care, housekeeping, bill payment management, grocery shopping or similar responsibilities.

Caregivers are also identified as grandparents with primary custody and care of grandchildren under the age of 18.

The role of caregivers is extremely important, for the reason that family caregivers provide services and out-of-pocket expenses that equal more than $250 billion per year. Support services help family caregivers maintain their own quality of life while caring for others. New Bethel will begin offering Caregiver Support Group meetings in 2009 – dates and times will be provided in the Church Calendar and Sunday bulletin.

For additional information related to caregiver resources, go to:

www.ace-center.org