OLYMPIA -- The Department of Social and Health Services (DSHS) is offering caregiver kits to help people who care for aging or adult relatives or friends, and relatives raising children.

Two different kits are being offered during November, which is National Family Caregiver Month.

The "Family Caregiver Kit" offers helpful booklets and information on the statewide Family Caregiver Support Program. The information helps caregivers recognize the signs of emotional stress, helps them identify services for loved ones with developmental disabilities, and helps caregivers plan for their own long-term care.

People caring for related children will find the "Kinship Caregiver Kit" contains helpful brochures and booklets, including: parenting resources, information for grandparents raising grandkids, relative rights, legal information for non-parental caregivers, and support group information.

Aurora Bolding, a family caregiver for her spouse said, "My biggest challenge is to try to reduce my stress level. One thing that has helped me is finding help with occasional yard work and chores around the home. That has been a big relief." Aurora used her family caregiver kit to locate services through her local Family Caregiver Support Program.

Dee Poe, a kinship caregiver to her grandchild said, "My frustration as a caregiver is the daily struggle to make ends meet financially." The Kinship Caregiver Kit contains resources for families like Dee to help find services and resources. The kits also contain information on caregiver self care. "I have finally learned that part of caregiving is taking care of myself so that I am happier and have better energy to deal with my everyday life."

For a free kit, call the DSHS Aging and Disability Services Administration toll-free at 1-800-422-3263 or go on online at http://www.adsa.dshs.wa.gov under "Caregiver Resources."