Family Caregivers Center of Mercy
Family caregivers provide unpaid care for individuals with chronic conditions who are unable to care for themselves. The Family Caregivers Center of Mercy is Eastern Iowa’s only comprehensive resource serving family caregivers caring for adults. Services are available for caregivers regardless of their hospital or physician affiliation.
How We Can Help
The Family Caregivers Center can help in many ways. Opportunities available to family caregivers and their families include:
- 1-on-1 confidential conversations with trained volunteers providing emotional support and connection to resources **
- Educational Sessions & Events listed in the monthly calendar
- Centered monthly newsletter
- Male Caregiver Coffee
- Drop-in Support Group
- The Mindful Caregiver book discussion* (8-10 week series and support group)
- Passages in Caregiving book discussion* (5-week series)
- 10-minute chair massages* with licensed therapist as listed in the monthly calendar
- Volunteer Companion Respite
- Music & Memory*
- Creative Art* for caregivers and care receivers
- Music Therapy* for caregivers and care receivers
- Chair Yoga* for caregivers and care receivers
- Q&A with Veteran’s Affairs
- Q&A regarding Medicaid
- Powerful Tools for Caregivers* (6-week series by ISU Extension trained facilitators)
- Finances of Caregiving* (4-week series by ISU Extension trained facilitators)
- Transitioning Out of Caregiving (4-week series and support group)
*There may be charges associated with these programs.
**The Family Caregivers Center works in cooperation with the Alzheimer’s Association and the Heritage Area Agency on Aging.
Virtual Tour of the Center
Family caregivers often don’t know what help they need, where to find it, how to access services or determine eligibility, and what to do if what they thought would work, doesn’t.
Because so much of their time and energy is spent caring for their loved one and trying to access community resources, unsupported family caregivers are less likely to take care of their own physical, mental and emotional needs.
That’s where we can help. Start by looking through some frequently asked questions in our Caregivers Guide (PDF).
“A day in the life” at the Family Caregivers Center of Mercy
Caregivers may call the center directly. They may also be referred by medical or human service professionals, friends and/or other caregivers.
Trained volunteers will initially provide one-on-one visits with caregivers to discuss specific plans to connect them to appropriate community services, if appropriate, and follow-up on a regular basis. The caregivers relationship with the center remains as long as the caregiver wishes.
The impact of the service provided will be evaluated. The Family Caregivers Center of Mercy, on day one, began a commitment to evaluation of results and feedback leading to a cycle of continuous improvement.
How can I help now?
If this is an initiative you connect with and want to support – thank you! You may donate to support the development of an endowment that will sustain the center for years to come. Volunteer opportunities will also be available – submit your interest to volunteer here and we will keep your information and follow-up with interested members of the community.
The Family Caregivers Center of Mercy provides services and financial need-based aid to caregivers regardless of the identity of a caregiver's or care receiver 's health care provider or insurance status. No purchase or use of items or services from Mercy is necessary to receive services and financial need-based aid provided by the Family Caregivers Center.
© 2019 Mercy Medical Center
