searching for materials to develop caregiver program

Nothing I read prepared me for the problems I faced. Perhaps because there wasn't enough time in the day, and when my day was over, I was too exhausted to read.
What I can tell you worked most for me, was support from friends and family. Having them ask me how I was doing, and if they could help in any way. I also cried alot (mostly from exhaustion and thinking I wasn't strong enough). I typed a journal late at night, to let my feeling out, and meditated whenever possible. I learned ways to problem solve (like getting dinner daily during the chemo months, to insure it was something he wanted to eat, and getting two of everything because he would eat, throw up, and later eat again and be able to hold it down)
Instead of asking for sites and books, you may be better off asking people for their real life experiences in being a caregiver. You will probably get better and more material.

First I would like to, "thank you", for the work you are doing. Last month, (Feb. 1st) my Mom lost her battle with esophogeal/stomach cancer and if it wasn't for the hospice staff, (nurses, doctors, Social workers,...) I don't know how we would have handled it. I came to this site to try and find some help for me, but I think I may be of some help to others as well.
The hospice that we had were very supportive to the caregivers. There were some books that were recommended and my favorite was called, "Final Gifts". This book was written by two long time hospice nurses and helped us to deal with the things we were seeing that a terminal patient experiences. Two other smaller books were directed more to the children in our families and helping them to cope with their Grandmothers' passing. I'm sure many hospice programs offer these. And it is true that even if you have these books there is little time to read, so my sisters and I would share some of what we read to help the other.There were even times that I couldn't pick the books up because of the content, (sometimes it is very difficult to deal with the reality of the books' purpose), but it helped when I really needed to have a question answered.
It seems the best thing is to evaluate each situation and see what issues are the most pressing at that moment. Our situation seemed to change daily. Luckily we are a very close family and as the time drew near we all pulled together and depended on each other. Out of the four of my Mothers children, I am the one that lived out of state. My two sisters are nurses, but each dealt with this in a different way. My oldest sister, an RN, felt like she should be invincible and should be able to handle this with no problem. She was having a hard time trying to be the knowledgable nurse and the heartbroke daughter at the same time. That is when our hospice nurse was so invaluable. I talked to her and she was able to help my sister understand that it is so different, nursing as a job, and nursing for your own. There were so many issues that she was dealing with that I just didn't know how to help her and in my state of mind at the time, along with a lack of rest, financial problems, distanced from my own family,...You get the picture, it helped so much to have someone else there to say, "What can I do?", and be able to do it.
Another thing that was a BIG help was when we had the hospice volunteer come in and help with Mom's bath. Even though me and my sister were both there it was so wonderful to have someone come and give us a break. My Mom even enjoyed having this young lady to talk to. She was like a breath of fresh air. I hope this helps. "T"