National Family Caregivers Month

Caregivers Month: Thank a caregiver. Let them know you care.

November is National Family Caregivers Month, an annual commemoration, sponsored by the Caregiver Action Network, to honor the millions of Americans who care for a loved one with a chronic condition, disability, or the frailties of old age.

As President Barack Obama stated in his official proclamation:

“Across our country, more than 60 million Americans take up the selfless and unheralded work of delivering care to seniors or people with disabilities or illnesses. The role they play in our healthcare system is one we must recognize and support. During National Family Caregivers Month, we thank these tireless heroes for the long, challenging work they perform behind closed doors and without fanfare every day, and we recommit to ensuring the well-being of their loved ones and of the caregivers themselves.

Under the Affordable Care Act, patients and caregivers can benefit from a new Medicare pilot program that helps beneficiaries negotiate the transition from hospital to home. And through new Medicaid options, States can expand access to home and community-based services. With caregivers already balancing their own needs with those of their loved ones, and in many cases caring for both young children and aging parents, our Nation's caregivers need and deserve our support. With this in mind, local agencies work to connect individuals with options including adult day care, respite care, training programs, and caregiver support groups — all shaped with the understanding that the generous women and men who take the health of their loved ones into their hands should not suffer from the toll caregiving can take.”

The American Association of Retired Persons (AARP®) and the Advertising Council recently launched a new advertising and social media campaign to coincide with National Family Caregivers Month. The campaign illustrates the many roles caregivers play and thanks them for their efforts. The campaign also reflects research AARP conducted in June of 2013 and TV and radio spots are supported by a website called ThanksProject.org. The site allows users to post a note of thanks any caregivers they know. The campaign also advertises an AARP website that offers resources for caregivers.

About the Caregiver Action Network

The Caregiver Action Network is the nation’s leading family caregiver organization working to improve the quality of life for the more than 65 million Americans who care for loved ones with chronic conditions, disabilities, disease, or the frailties of old age. CAN serves a broad spectrum of family caregivers ranging from the parents of children with special needs, to the families and friends of wounded soldiers; from a young couple dealing with a diagnosis of MS, to adult children caring for parents with Alzheimer’s disease. CAN (formerly the National Family Caregivers Association) is a non-profit organization providing education, peer support, and resources to family caregivers across the country free of charge.

About Alternatives for Seniors

If you or a senior loved one is searching for a senior living residence, visit AlternativesforSeniors.com. There, you can use a number of tools to help you find a senior apartment, independent-living, assisted-living, Alzheimer’s specialty or other continuing-care community where seniors can remain safe and in great care.

 

BLOG Date: November 12, 2013

Writer: Ryan Allen