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There were nurses to deal with, rehab centers to visit, outpatient programs to consider and long phone conversations with therapists and doctors.
"My father needed my support, and I had no idea what I was doing," said Watrel, a professor at Bergen County Community College. "Working a full-time job and being a caregiver can drive you completely crazy."
Watrel found the support he needed through the Post Stroke and Disabled Support Group, a state Department of Disability Services initiative for adults who have been put in the position of primary caregiver for a loved one.
Now Watrel is trying to support other caregivers with BergenCountyCaregiver, a Wordpress blog he launched in January that shares the information discussed in his support group.
"Bergen County has the highest aging population in all of New Jersey, so I think we need something like this," Watrel told Daily Voice. "I want to help all the caregivers who are going through what I went through."
The site acts as a guide for caregivers on all the programs that are available from the county, state and federal government and any related news.
Recent posts featured information on transportation services for people with disabilities and how to sign up for food stamps.
"For people like me who didn't know where to turn, BergenCountyCaregiver is a good starting point," Watrel said.
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