Just as parents in babysitting co-ops trade childcare hours, eldercare providers can do the same, following a model created at the Asian Community Center of Sacramento Valley (ACC) in Sacramento, California.
The ACC offered one day of adult daycare a week, but when the center didn't have the money to expand the popular program, caregivers decided to do it themselves. They organized a caregiver co-op and found that by volunteering a little time every month, they got a big payback.
Here's how it works: Caregivers earn adult daycare hours by working one shift a month at the center. In exchange, their parent or spouse gets an additional day of care each week. The program not only gives caregivers more time for themselves, it also fosters community among the elderly and caregivers alike. For more information, contact the Asian Community Center of Sacramento Valley.
