Caregivers of New Jersey is dedicated to providing a central point of contact on caregiving issues, resulting in more effective information dissemination, increased support and awareness and advocacy.
Caregivers of New Jersey was formed in response to the growing number of caregivers within the state. With more than 1.1 million caregivers in the state, Caregivers of New Jersey will work to shed light on the mounting needs of caregivers and increased need for support.
In addition, Caregivers of New Jersey has developed a Support Coordination team which supports many of the 1,850 individuals living in developmental centers who wish to be transitioned into the community. Support Coordination is a consumer driven process where by individuals choose where they would like to live and who they would like to support them.
Caregiving is the act of assisting someone you care about, who is chronically ill or disabled and unable to care for him/herself. Caring for a family member with a disability can be both a rewarding and an overwhelming experience. Sometimes the demands of the caregiving role can cause the person giving care to lose focus of his or her own needs and identity, and feelings of depression or burn-out may set in.
Between 44 and 54 million people provide care for a loved one in the United States. More than a quarter of the adult population has provided care for a chronically ill, disabled, or older family member at some time.
There are over 1.06 million caregivers in New Jersey alone
80% of new people applying for state Division of Developmental Disabilities (DDD) services are under the age of 22. Approximately 24,000 people, out of a total of 37,000 who are registered with DDD, live with their families. That’s 65% of people registered with DDD, and yet these families receive only 9% of DDD’s budget to help care for their family member.
Caregivers are twice as likely as non-caregivers to report physical and mental health complications and experience 63% more mortality risks than non-caregivers. Caregivers suffer from an increased risk of depression, anxiety disorders, diminished immune response, slower wound healing, and a greater incidence of hospitalization than do non-caregivers.
Caregivers of NJ seeks professionals who can demonstrate creativity, passion, teamwork, self-motivation and commitment to the CNJ’s mission. If you share these values and thrive on making a real impact, this is your time to use your education and your professional experiences to make a difference in the lives of New Jersey residents.
Click here for all opportunities within The Family Resource Network.
