When it comes to aging and caregiving for your elderly loved ones, it is clear to many that people don’t know what they don’t know about the aging process.

No one expects to become a caregiver overnight, but often that is exactly what happens. All it takes is one difficult diagnosis, a fall, or a sudden change in health to fundamentally change most families’ lives.

In an instant, a spouse, adult child, or close friend can be responsible for navigating medical decisions, legal paperwork, financial questions, and end-of-life planning. For many Alabama families, these moments arrive without warning — and without a roadmap.

When these responsibilities are thrust upon them, older adults and their caregivers can quickly find the uncertainty overwhelming.

Families often spend hours and resources searching for information, calling agencies, or relying on word-of-mouth advice to determine which services exist and how to access them. This uncertainty creates what feels like a gap in support.

The good news is that Alabama families do not have to face these challenges alone.

There are, in fact, many helpful resources across our state. The problem is that families often don’t know where to look.

One helpful statewide resource is the Alabama Department of Senior Services, which provides programs and information for older adults and caregivers.

Every region in Alabama has an Area Agency on Aging that provides housing assistance, case management, and financial assistance. These services help families better understand available benefits, long-term care options, and support programs.

Beyond government programs, many families find support in an unexpected but familiar place: their faith community.

For many people in Alabama, churches and other faith communities serve as a hub of belonging, connection, and care. Older adults often feel most comfortable within the communities where they have worshiped and built relationships for decades.

These partnerships between community organizations, state agencies, and faith communities are critical for strengthening the network of support available to families.

At the James Houston Center for Faith & Successful Aging, we work alongside faith communities, churches, and other organizations across Alabama to connect older adults, caregivers, and their families with resources that support their well-being.

One of the tools we use in this work is AgeReady, a web-based platform that provides practical, evidence-based guidance for those caring for older adults.

AgeReady helps families think through the many aspects of aging, including health, finances, housing, and caregiving roles, before a crisis occurs.

Through helping manage tasks, providing research and reading materials, and connecting users with experts, AgeReady has proven to be an extremely helpful resource for countless individuals, families, and groups.

In communities where AgeReady has been implemented, participants report feeling more informed and better prepared for the challenges of aging and caregiving. Though preparation cannot eliminate these difficulties entirely, it can provide peace of mind and a pathway toward the next right step.

As Alabama’s population continues to age, caregivers need support more than ever. By strengthening connections between families, faith communities, and state resources, we can ensure that no caregiver has to walk this journey alone.

Ethan Asters is the Executive Director of the James Houston Center for Faith in Successful Aging. The Center is located in the Birmingham, Alabama area and provides AgeReady and other age-related resources to older adults, caregivers, and their families.