National Family Caregivers Month
November, 2021
National Family Caregivers Month 2021
Recursos para el cuidado familiar en español
Each November, National Family Caregivers Month (NFCM) offers an opportunity to recognize and spotlight the important work done by family caregivers. The holiday also provides a chance to raise awareness and build supportive opportunities around common issues faced by these individuals.
Today, more than 1 in 5 American adults are caregivers. This number will continue to accelerate as the baby boomer generation ages and friends and family members step in to support them.
The national observance is spearheaded by Caregiver Action Network (CAN), a nonprofit that provides free education, peer support, and resources to family caregivers. CAN announced this year’s theme, #CaregiverAnd which encourages family caregivers to celebrate the passions and interests that enrich their lives.
Here at Calvary, our goal is to help raise awareness, share resources, and extend our support to caregivers everywhere. We see you, we support you and we honor the important work you do. For prospective, about 41.8 million Americans have provided unpaid care, in the past 12 months. (National Alliance for Caregiving and AARP; 2020 Caregiving in the U.S.) The average duration of caregiving is 4 1/2 years. 89% of them cared for a relative, usually their own parents or in-laws. (National Alliance for Caregiving and AARP; 2020 Caregiving in the U.S.)
A Proclamation on National Family Caregivers Month, 2021
Every day, millions of Americans provide essential care and medical assistance to their loved ones. These acts of love, commitment, and compassion enable their family members to receive the support they need to live a life with dignity. This has been especially true throughout the COVID-19 pandemic, during which Americans of all ages have made substantial sacrifices to keep family members safe and healthy. During National Family Caregivers Month, we recognize the important role of our Nation’s family caregivers and thank them for the invaluable and instrumental care they provide.
Self-Care for Family Caregivers
It’s no surprise that caregivers often neglect their own needs to care for their loved ones.
“It is essential that caregivers make time every day to attend to their own physical and emotional needs-doing so will, in fact, make them better caregivers in the long run,” said Kate Mohan, LMSW, Assistant Director of Support Services, Calvary Hospice.
Acknowledge when you are overwhelmed and need help.
- This is often the hardest thing to do.
Seek out other family members and friends who may provide valuable respite for you.
- Sometimes, you need someone else to sit with or care for your loved one while taking care of other tasks.
- Make sure to ask other family members and friends for help when needed. Sometimes people are unaware of how much this can help you.
Eat meals regularly and get enough sleep.
- Just because you’re caring for someone else doesn’t mean that you should neglect your own needs.
Do meditation, yoga, and other forms of exercise.
- If you enjoy meditation, yoga, taking walks, or working out at the gym, continue to do so regularly.
- You need the break, and you deserve it!
Seek professional help.
- If you find yourself depressed, agitated, or not behaving like “yourself,” you may benefit from speaking to a therapist or other professional.
- Reach out to family and friends who may be able to connect you with someone who can help you.
Resources for Family Caregivers
Family Caregivers Month is a time to recognize, praise, and support the 40 million Americans caring for a family member in need.
The CareGiver Action Network (link name to: https://www.caregiveraction.org/) offers many tools and resources for the public including:
- CareGiver Tool Kit
- CareGiver helpful tips list – in addition to live chat support and other opportunities for connection.
Care Community
Connect to Caregiver Action Network, post a message, ask a question or offer support to other caregivers.
Resources for Family Caregivers:
- Yoga for Caregivers: Poses and Affirmations to Refresh and Empower You. Posted on July 20, 2017, by Institute on Aging
- Relaxing Music for Caregivers. When feeling anxious or stressed, calming music can help to settle your mind EnoB and the Met Chorus have donated the following concerts to help soothe and refocus:
- Family Caregiver Mediation by Karen Rice, First Published: Senior Living Guide Spring 2003
- Exercising When You’re Caring for Someone Else
- Cómo lograr una rutina de ejercicios durante el cuidado. Consejos para mantenerte bien de salud cuando cuidas de otra persona.
National Family Caregiver Support Programs
- Help for Cancer Caregivers – A collaboration of Anthem, Inc., CancerCare, Caregiver Action Network, Indiana University, and Michigan State University, created this website to share resources and news for caregivers.
- Support to Caregivers – Programs like the National Family Caregiver Support Program and Lifespan Respite Care Program help with supporting family members who provide assistance or support to older adults and people with disabilities.
- Family Caregiver Alliance – Established in 2001 as a program of Family Caregiver Alliance, the National Center on Caregiving (NCC) works to advance the development of high-quality, cost-effective policies and programs for caregivers in every state in the country.
- Caregiver Action Network – Resources from the Caregiver Action Network, including a Peer Forum, a Story Sharing platform, the Family Caregiver Toolbox, and more.
- Connecting People to Services – Several programs help older adults and people with disabilities find support and services to help them with community living and integration.
- En Español: https://www.caregiver.org/spanish/