2012 Annual Report

Letter From the Co-Founders

The Triangle area is full of wonderful family and professional caregivers, and they do such important work - taking care of those among us who face serious and chronic illness or disability. It's rich and rewarding work, but we also know it can also be overwhelming and stressful. That's why we founded Guiding Lights two years ago, to honor caregivers by offering them practical and compassionate assistance, access to information and resources, and training in caregiving skills. And that's why we are so ple ased to be able to report our accomplishments of the past year, as we help more people than ever, expand existing programs and launch new services to reach the wider community.

We recognize the urgent, unmet needs of caregivers and understand what it takes to meet those needs. We provide a range of services, each designed to meet caregivers wherever they are in their journey. We now serve approximately 2,500 people annually, regardless of financial resources. For example, almost half of those who use our free Care Coordination and Support Service are seeking assistance for a care recipient who is on Medicaid, highlighting the economic vulnerability that underlies the need for our services. As we increasingly serve these individuals, Guiding Lights becomes a critical part of the fabric of community-based care in the Triangle.

Guiding Lights has focused on two goals in the past year:

• To serve more family and professional caregivers through an integrated set of programs that meet a range of needs.
• To integrate our services with those of other healthcare organizations, building a network and culture of collaboration that improves the care that clients and patients receive in their homes.
• To expand our efforts to educate the broader community about caregiving - through an expanded Triangle Caregivers Conference and through the media - a weekly radio show, free DVDs, and online training for family and professional caregivers.

And always, we keep our eye on the vision we have for Guiding Lights - to be the "guiding lights" in our community, as together we face the daily challenges of caregiving and prepare for future needs.

Thank you for your trust in us, for your support, and for your heartfelt enthusiasm for our contributions to the health and well-being of our community.

From the Co-Founders of Guiding Lights,
Nicole M. Bruno, Executive Director
Julie Falconer, Director of Programs