by: Melanie Farley
Each year in November, National Caregivers Month is a time to recognize and honor the more than 50 million family caregivers across the U.S. Families continue to be the primary support for older adults and people with disabilities, and full-time caregiving takes a significant financial, mental, and emotional toll on caregivers.
This year’s theme #CaregivingHappens is meant to reflect the reality that caregiving is often needed when you least expect it. That constant upheaval and unexpected turmoil can cause a lot of stress for caregivers, 32 million of whom are women. So, how can you get involved and better support the caregivers in your life? Read on for our tips!
Share Your Story with the Hashtag #CaregivingHappens
Social media is a great way to connect and share caregivers’ stories. It might not seem like much, but publicly honoring caregivers for their hard work, compassion, and sacrifice shows that we see and appreciate their efforts.
Also, you can use this hashtag to share resources that provide support for caregivers’ mental, physical, and emotional wellbeing.
Provide Caregivers Time for Self Care
Did you know that family caregivers provide 10,000+ hours of unpaid labor each month? So, the best way to support them might be to give them some time off! Perhaps you offer to provide care for their loved one while they get a massage, or even just read a good book for an hour.
Trust me, your caregiver will thank you! And, the renewed energy the caregiver gains will benefit their loved ones as well.
Be Understanding of Caregivers’ Unique Needs
Remember, #CaregivingHappens often when it is unexpected or inconvenient. Caregivers cannot predict when their loved ones will fall sick or have an accident, so try to be understanding if they cancel plans at the last minute.
If possible, you might even offer additional support when they are facing unexpected emergencies. Cooking them dinner or taking care of other errands/chores are great ways to ease their burdens, for example.
A Final Word…
This year for National Caregivers Month, there are myriad ways to honor, support, and provide visibility to the many unpaid family caregivers in our communities.
Sharing stories on social media via the hashtag #CaregivingHappens promotes visibility and can be an excellent tool for sharing resources. You might also provide a caregiver in your life some much needed time for self-care to give them a renewed sense of energy and purpose.
But, most importantly, try to remember that #CaregivingHappens, often when we least expect it.
Would your senior loved one benefit from expert adult day care in a warm, welcoming environment? The healthcare professionals at Northeast Adult Day Care can provide skilled care, monitoring, and social interaction for your loved one! Reach out to learn more, info@northeastadc.com.