According to the National Family Caregivers Association, "more than 50 million people provide care for a chronically ill, disabled or aged family member or friend during any given year?. The vast majority of these are volunteer caregivers. A volunteer caregiver is generally a family member, friend or a relative other than parents whose services are free.

Care recipients require medical supplies and equipment. These supplies and equipment are readily available to health care facilities but are not always easily procured by volunteer caregivers. If the person being cared for cannot be left at home alone, caregivers have problems procuring medical supplies. Internet provides the opportunity to order them and at home delivery is guaranteed.

The volunteer caregiver has to be well equipped to perform the following duties.

?Helping someone turn in bed

?Getting from a chair to bed

?Personal care

?Helping someone onto a bedpan

?Helping with a bath or shower

?General care of hair

?Other areas needing care

?Bed care

?Moving someone in bed

?Getting someone out of bed

?Using a bedpan or urinal

?Walking

?Dealing with incontinence

?Giving a bed bath

?Adaptive clothing

A local caregiver specialist or Area Agency on Aging provides hands-on training or know-how. If local training is not available then occupational therapist or physical therapist should be consulted. Physical therapists help in movement. Occupational therapists help people manage daily tasks as easily as possible. The last resource is the local nurse who can guide to perform these tasks.

Nationally, training has been developed by both for-profit and non-profit agencies to help provide caregivers with the skills. The local AAA or caregiver specialist can find out the resources available in the area. If cost is an issue, then programmes that offer scholarship should be taken up. Some training sessions are offered for free. Proper guidelines, good reading materials, focused orientation, networking with support groups for similar causes, web linking and willpower all contribute to the making of a skilled volunteer caregiver.

Outreach to individuals, communities and populations that are beyond the reach of effective health care Programs

Addresses the needs of vulnerable individuals and communities

Involves of families and communities in the recovery process

Helps to improve patients' understanding of their paths to recovery

Helps collaboration among health care providers and other organizations

Helps to improve communication between clients and providers

This is a respite policy for Families and Family Caregivers. This programme is a model for community-based long-term services.

This creates a one-stop online location where caregivers become empowered to navigate the health care system on behalf of the friends and loved ones for whom they are providing critical assistance.

There are other organizations like Legacy Health System that has developed powerful tools for skilled caregivers. Caring for You, Caring for Me is an educational programme that brings in together professional and volunteer caregivers.