by: Melanie Farley
November is National Caregivers’ Month, a time to 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.
That’s why this year’s theme is Plug-in to Care, which encourages caregivers to connect with essential support, tools, and resources. So, how can you help connect the caregivers in your life with the support systems they need to thrive? Read on for our tips!
Plug-in to Community Resources
Caregiving can be isolating.It’s easy to become overwhelmed with responsibilities at home and forget that you don’t have to do everything alone. Help the caregivers in your life by guiding them toward resources in your community that can help.
The Caregiver Action Network is a great place to start. On their website, they provide a list of health conditions and possible support resources for caregivers and their families. You might also explore Pennsylvania’s Caregiver Support Program, which offers caregiver education and training, benefits counseling, reimbursement for expenses, and more.
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.
You might also consider an adult day care to provide more regular relief for the caregiver in your life. Adult day centers offer participants a safe, engaging environment during the day, and they spend evenings with their caregivers.
Understand Your Caregiver’s Unique Needs
Caregiving is an all-consuming job. 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. . .
National Caregivers’ Month, let’s Plug-in to Care, guiding caregivers toward resources and community support. It is also important to understand your caregiver’s unique needs.
So, help them where you can. The much-needed time for self-care will give the caregiver in your life a renewed sense of energy and purpose. Happy National Caregivers’ Month!
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.