About BFG

According to the Caregiving in the U.S. 2020 report recently released by the National Alliance for Caregiving and AARP one in five adults in the US are providing unpaid care to an adult with a health or functional need. Are you one of these new caregivers needing help with your new role? 

Why "Becoming a family Caregiver" could change your life

     “I created Becoming a Family Caregiver (BFG) to bridge the gap between healthcare and homecare for caregivers.   In our society, there is a flaw in our healthcare system. Family caregivers need training on how to do healthcare procedures at home.  They need someone they can call with questions and one place to look up information.  If they can see a procedure performed and read about their medical condition in one place, that’s a win-win.”

     “I want BFG to meet that need.  As a resource, I want it to be their “go-to” place for information, questions, and support.  As a fellow caregiver, I want to walk across their bridge with them, encourage them, and safely see them to the other side.”

Donna Steigleder

Becoming A Family Caregiver AUTHOR

Becoming a Family Caregiver Mission Statement
BFG exists to 1. provide caregivers with basic healthcare training so they have the knowledge they need to problem solve at home 2. to gather as many resources in one location as possible for one-stop-shopping 3. to provide a wide variety of content to reach as many as possible 4. to make it affordable to everyone 
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Building a Foundation
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Building A Foundation
Becoming a Family Caregiver helps you Build a Strong Foundation that will allow you to stand up to the storms ahead. Without the proper training and understanding to help you know what’s important about your situation, you won’t be able to make good decisions or recognize trouble when it starts. Knowledge is truly the key to survival in caregiving and that is what this website can provide you. I provide foundational training on caregiving that fills in any gaps you may have so that there are no cracks in your Foundation.
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How to Do Things
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How To Do Things
After you were told what to do to care for your family member by their healthcare provider, how much did you remember when you got home? I’ll guess that it wasn’t much. Most of this website is dedicated to explaining how to care for someone at home. Under “How to Do Things” I cover how to perform procedures, how to deal with various conditions, how to recognize disorders, and what to do if something happens. Check out “What’s Available” below for a preview of some of the topics you’ll find throughout Becoming a Family Caregiver (BFG).
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Caregiver Visual Aids
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Caregiver Visual Aids
Throughout BFG, you'll find video libraries of visual aids from YouTube. Watch as a nursing student learns how to perform the same procedure you’re trying to learn to do. By watching someone else do it, you can see what to do and learn what to expect. Watch the video a few times and you’ll begin to feel comfortable with what to do. There are also videos on how to interact with someone whose memory is fading or who is confused. The videos offer good suggestions on how to phrase questions to get them to follow their treatment plan.
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Caregiver Resources
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Caregiver Resources
I have dozens of website addresses for disease and condition-specific organizations and agencies. These wonderful resources are available to provide family caregivers with information, assistance, and other support in a variety of ways. In addition, I have a list of government and state-run organizations and agencies caregivers often need to contact. I’m adding to both lists all the time. If you’re ever looking for a contact link, look on Becoming a Family Caregiver's site first. I may have just what you need!
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Caregiver Marketplace
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Caregiver Marketplace
Visit our Caregiver Marketplace to find both medical and non-medical supply items useful in the care of someone at home. Using non-medically designated items is often less expensive than buying from a medical warehouse. Check out ways to use household utensils for caregiver purposes for less money. Consider Becoming a Family Caregiver to be a reference source for you as you consider options to purchase.
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Caregiver Connection
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Caregiver Connection
The secure Caregiver Connection section of BFG provides members with the opportunity to share their experiences, ask questions,  form bonds and provide encouragement to one another using the Caregiver Connection Forum. For security reasons, registration is required for password protection to be implemented.
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Requests for Help
While the content on BFG is free,  there is a charge for the time required to complete a request to help with training or to help a caregiver with a difficult problem of $25/hour.
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Requests for Help
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Ready to join? 

Click on the link to Caregiver Connection for  instructions on how to Register  as a member