At first, it’s just a ride to an appointment.
Then it’s picking up groceries. Making a few phone calls. Helping with paperwork. Checking in every evening.
Then one day you realize you’re doing things you never expected to do—and you’re not quite sure when you became a caregiver.
You want to help. But you were never given a caregiver’s manual.
For many families, caregiving begins exactly this way: one small need at a time, until suddenly you’re responsible for things you never imagined you’d have to know how to do.
And you don’t have to figure it all out alone.
Caregiving Is a Community Effort
At Partners In Care Maryland, Inc., our mission is Neighbors Helping Neighbors. We believe strong communities help older adults remain independent, connected, and able to age in place.
Through programs such as Ride Partners, Repairs With Care, and Member Care, volunteers and staff help older adults with practical needs while creating something equally important: connection.
A ride can become a conversation. A home repair can provide peace of mind. A friendly phone call can brighten someone’s day.
And for family caregivers, knowing that support is available can make a tremendous difference.
Caregivers Need Support, Too
Family caregivers often find themselves learning new skills while managing responsibilities they never expected to have. They may need help understanding how to safely assist with mobility, personal care, feeding, or other everyday needs. They may also simply need a place to talk with people who understand what they’re experiencing.
That’s why Chesapeake Life Center offers the Caregiver Academy.
The Caregiver Academy is open to any family caregiver—whether or not they are connected to hospice, palliative care, Partners In Care, or any of our other services.
There is no sequence to complete. Caregivers can participate in one, two, or all three opportunities in whatever order works for them.
Three Ways to Participate
Virtual Caregiver Support Group
Connect with other caregivers on Zoom for emotional support, stress management, and connection. There is no commitment and no requirement to speak.
Virtual Caregiver Education Series
Monthly Zoom sessions provide practical information on topics such as communication, difficult behaviors, personal care, eating and swallowing, mobility and falls, and end-of-life changes.
Bedside Boot Camp
A hands-on simulation experience where caregivers can practice transfers, bathing, incontinence care, feeding, and positioning, along with immersive empathy training. Participants leave with practical skills they can use at home.
Space for Bedside Boot Camp is limited, and registration is required.
Please can register in one of two ways:
- By registering at: Caregivers Academy – Fill out form
- Or by emailing caregiveracademy@chesapeakelifecenter.org
You Don’t Have to Have All the Answers
Asking for help doesn’t mean you’re doing less for the person you care for. It means you’re building a stronger circle of support around them—and yourself.
That support might come from family, friends, neighbors, volunteers, community organizations, or caregiver education programs like the Caregiver Academy.
At Partners In Care, we believe aging in place is about more than remaining in a home. It’s about remaining connected to the people, places, and community that make that home meaningful.
And caregiving is about more than completing a list of tasks. It’s about supporting dignity, independence, connection, and quality of life.
You don’t have to do it alone.
Through Neighbors Helping Neighbors, Partners In Care and Chesapeake Life Center are helping create communities where older adults can remain connected and independent—and where caregivers have the knowledge, skills, and support they need along the way.
Learn more about Chesapeake Life Center and the Caregiver Academy
