Family members caring for patients diagnosed with Alzheimer's or dementia know how all-consuming their task is. In California alone, there are more than 4 million family caregivers, each spending 20-40 hours per week caring for their loved ones. Family caregiving is typically what sustains adults with disabilities, yet caregivers often make major sacrifices to help loved ones remain in their homes. The stress of caring for family members with dementia has been shown to impact a caregiver's health and immune system for up to three years after their period of caregiving ends. "Many family caregivers for brain impaired adults and frail elderly don't know they have local resources to support them," said Michelle Nevins, executive director of Del Oro Caregiver Resource Center. "Del Oro Caregiver Resource Center provides opportunities for education, respite care and support groups that understand the day-to-day tasks and struggles of a family caregiver." Del Oro Caregiver Resource Center is part of a statewide system of resource centers serving family caregivers. Del Oro serves California's gold country counties: Alpine, Amador, Calaveras, Colusa, El Dorado, Nevada, Placer, Sacramento, San Joaquin, Sierra, Sutter, Yolo and Yuba. Del Oro provides support groups, educational events and respite care for local families, free of charge. According to Del Oro Caregiver Resource Center, nearly one out of every four households care for brain impaired adults and the frail elderly. Through Del Oro's online resource, family caregivers can find information on chronic and disabling conditions and diseases, aging, caregiving issues and community resources. Del Oro also supports local families through consultation, case management services, respite care and short-term counseling. The reality of caregiving is best understood not with statistics but through the stories of spouses, children, siblings, and friends who have stepped forward when a loved one needed them. Their experiences illustrate the need for support, encouragement and resources to empower them in their caregiving journey. For more information visit www.deloro.org