Caregiver Services

You are caregiving when you take care of a friend, family member or neighbor who is an older adult. This journey can be difficult, but you are not alone. Wilder Caregiver Services is here to help you.
Speak to our caregiver consultants who can connect you to resources, respite services, events and classes that support you in your role as a caregiver.
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Available Caregiver Services and Resources
Contact us about caregiver services

Interested in finding out more about caregiving support groups, resources and education? Have questions regarding your unique situation caring for a friend, family member or neighbor? Looking for advice on supporting other caregivers? Click "Request More Info" below to fill out the form and our Caregiver Consultants will be in touch.
Caregiver Consultation
Entry point into all caregiver services. The assessment will explore your strengths, needs and goals as a family caregiver. The assessment will be used to create a customized caregiver plan that includes goal setting, problem solving, coaching and ongoing support to reach established goals.
Caregiver Coaching
Weekly coaching following a consultation in order to reach caregiver goals.
P.S. I Understand
Caregiver peer support; former, experienced caregiver volunteers will be matched with new or current caregivers to walk alongside them during their caregiver journey; volunteer role is not to be a constant companion but to be a kind and supportive listener.
Caregiver Coaching Packages
Consultation plus three months of coaching and enrollment in P.S. I Understand
Wilder Connect (Caregiver Respite)
Wilder Connect is a chance for caregivers to rest, recharge, run errands and more while their care partner enjoys engaging activities in a safe, fun environment. Our respite services focus on caregivers tending to the needs of those living with memory loss and Parkinson's Disease. 4 hours of caregiver respite, offered on weekdays from 12 to 4 p.m. at 941 Lafond Ave.
Family Meeting Facilitation
Family members meet with an experienced facilitator and acknowledged rules to create a plan of care for the care receiver, including each family member’s role with the care receiver. Helps family understand their current situation and plan for the future with realistic expectations. 2 to 3 hour in-person meeting.
Caregiver Support Groups
Monthly peer support group, led by a facilitator. Groups include topics of interest to the caregivers, discussion and resources.
In-home Respite
1:1 support and supervision in home while caregiver is able to leave and have a break.
Powerful Tools for Caregivers
In-person class with weekly sessions that helps caregivers:
- Improve self-care behaviors such as exercise, relaxation and medical care
- Improve emotional management including reducing guilt, anger and depression
- Increase self confidence in coping with the demands of caregiving
CaregivingNow
Join our CaregivingNow Facebook Community!
https://www.facebook.com/groups/CaregivingNow
Caregiver Awareness
We Call it Caregiving
What Is a Caregiver?
Did you know that doing common tasks like reminding your mom to take her medications or taking a spouse to an appointment is considered caregiving?
National research on caregiver self-identification (Kutner, 2001) showed that only 19 percent of people actively caring for a friend, family member, or neighbor self-identified as a caregiver. When people identify as a caregiver, they’re more likely to seek out services and resources that will help. That means healthier caregivers and communities.
In 2010, we gathered input from stakeholders and partner organizations to help us design the Caregiver Awareness campaign to raise awareness about identifying as a caregiver. This campaign been featured across Minnesota and in other states. For more information about the campaign development and impact, see our article in Generations – Journal of the American Society on Aging.
- To find out how you can use the campaign to further caregiving awareness in your community, call us at 651-280-CARE (2273) or send an email to caregiving@wilder.org.
Caregiver Voices
How can we help caregivers? Pause and listen.
We believe that an open discussion about caregiving can help our communities find new opportunities and ways to support individuals who are caring for friends, neighbors and family members. Through the Caregiver Voices series, Wilder is sharing stories of about the challenges, realities and personal experiences of informal caregivers.
Laura's Story: Taking Care of Yourself Can Mean Saying No

From her home in the Twin Cities, Laura provides long-distance caregiving for her mother in Florida. Find out what Laura says about self care for caregivers.
Jeanne's Story: This Is Work That I'm Choosing to Do

Jeanne cares for her mother, who has mild cognitive impairment and lives independently. Find out how Jeanne changed her perspective on how to help her mother.
Nancy's Story: 'Even if You’re Exhausted, You Can Gain from Finding a Creative Outlet'

When children's book author and illustrator Nancy Carlson became a caregiver for her husband, she created the "Doodle A Day" project to provide caregiving self-care. Find out more about her art and other ways she took care of herself.
Related Blog Posts and Research


In Their Own Voices: Five Books by Caregivers about the Caregiving Experience
One of the most amazing moments in the caregiver support groups at Wilder is when two people with different caregiving situations realize that they are experien... Read the article »Capacity to Care - Caregiver Services
Read the project »Caregiving in Context
Read the project »
This activity is made possible by the voters of Minnesota through a grant to the Minnesota State Arts Board, thanks to a special legislative appropriation from the arts and cultural heritage fund.