November is National Family Caregivers Month, so I thought it would be fitting to pay tribute to the estimated 42 million Americans who provide unpaid care to their family members on a routine basis. According to the Center for Disease Controls Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System, about 25% of American adults reported providing some amount of unpaid care or assistance to a family member with a long-term illness.
In 2030 we will mark a demographic turning point in America, as all Baby Boomers will have reached aged 65 and one in five Americans will be over age 65! As people grow older, the risk of chronic illness including dementia and debility frequently lead to the need for increasing assistance with caregiving. Because Medicare does not cover caregiver expenses or long-term nursing home care, the responsibility for the majority of long-term caregiving falls to the family. With the exception of those who privately purchase expensive long-term care insurance, few families have the financial resources to hire outside caregivers, so the family shoulders the burdens associated with caregiving.
Family caregivers are truly unsung heroes who make it possible for patients with long-term disabilities to remain at home in a comfortable and loving environment. Unfortunately, the tremendous stressors experienced by the family caregivers can have negative impacts on caregivers. According to the CDC, caregivers experience higher levels of depression and anxiety, compromised immune function and an increased risk of early death. Additional, 27% of caregivers and their families report experiencing a moderate to high degree of financial hardship because of lost wages associated with caregiving.
If you are a caregiver, we salute you for your years of loving, sacrificial service. If you know of someone who is a caregiver, below are some ideas on how you might show your appreciated for them during National Caregivers Month: [1]
TEN WAYS TO CELEBRATE NATIONAL CAREGIVER MONTH
- Offer a few hours of respite time to a family caregiver so they can spend time with friends, or simply relax.
- Send a card of appreciation or a bouquet of flowers to brighten a family caregiver's day.
- Encourage local businesses to offer a free service for family caregivers through the month of November.
- Help a family caregiver decorate their home for the holidays or offer to address envelopes for their holiday cards.
- Offer comic relief. Purchase tickets to a local comedy club, give a family caregiver your favorite funny movie to view, or provide them with a book on tape.
- Find 12 different photos of the caregiver's family and friends. Have a copy center create a calendar that the family caregiver can use to keep track of appointments and events.
- Offer to prepare Thanksgiving dinner for a caregiving family in your community, so they can just relax and enjoy the holiday.
- Take a few minutes to write a letter. Encourage your faith community to ask for prayers not only for those who are ill, but also those who care for them.
- Encourage family caregivers to become a part of the National Family Caregiver Story Project. It's a great place to not only share but read about others in like situations.
- Help a family caregiver find new educational materials and support through family caregiving web sites or by calling local social service agencies for help.
[1] Source: https://www.coastalcancercenter.com/blog/ten-ways-to-celebrate-national-caregiver-month
