Services
- The Watauga County government (http://www.wataugacounty.org/App_Pages/Dept/Aging/home.aspx) offers in home aid and respite care for caregivers. Through the senior center, other services are offered to those who qualify such as meal delivery, transportation services, and community programs.
- High Country Care Givers (https://www.ncdhhs.gov/divisions/aging-and-adult-services/family-caregiver-support-program) offers a wide selection on different care options. One option is respite care, which can be in home, where a caregiver helps a relative with day to day living short term.
- The Western Watauga Community Center (828-297-5195) offers different programs, support, care, and activities to help give seniors independence. These services also help caregivers by providing meal delivery, support groups, and social activities.
- Lois E. Harrill Senior Center (https://www.facebook.com/Lois-E-Harrill-Senior-Center-633405103471721/) offers up a wide variety of resources while also being close to campus. The center offers meal delivery, health fairs, support groups, trips, health insurance information, advocacy services, and much more.
Facilities
- Deerfield Assisted Living (https://www.ridgecare.com/respite) offers Ridge Care, which is their respite care program. They offer daily activities and provide meals for those who are in the Ridge Care program.
- The Avery County government offers senior services (http://www.averycountync.gov/departments/senior_services.php) to those in Avery County and in neighboring counties. They offer different programs, transportation, in home aide, respite care, and Caregivers Haven, which is a day program at the Senior Center for those with Alzheimer’s and dementia.
Support for Caregivers
- NC 2-1-1 (https://www.nc211.org/respite-care-0) offers information on different types of respite care, such as in home, out of home, and adult day centers. They offer a database where you can find respite care near you.
- The North Carolina Department of Health and Human Services (NCDHHS) offers grants and information for those who are caregivers for siblings, older relatives, and children (https://www.ncdhhs.gov/assistance/adult-services/family-caregiver-support).
- The High Country Area Agency on Aging (https://www.highcountryaging.org/) provides reimbursement up to $500 in respite care services for caregivers that are eligible. The agency also offers other resources and information for family caregivers.
- Ashe County Services for Aging (https://asheaging.com/respite.php) offers information and resources for family caregivers interested in respite care.
- The Blue Cross NC Institute for Health and Human Services (https://ihhs.appstate.edu/about-ihhs/community-resources/all?combine=&field_provider_areasserved_tid%5B%5D=70) offers a database of neighboring counties and the caregiver options each county has. This data base provides information’s on camps in area, resources for Alzheimer’s patients, and insurance.
- The Watauga County Government Project on Aging provides Meals on Wheels (http://www.wataugacounty.org/App_Pages/Dept/Aging/homemeals.aspx) for those 60+ or those who have a spouse who is eligible. There are different menus provided each month and provide healthy nutritious meals.