National Family Caregivers Month
Who is a family caregiver? Who is providing 306 billion dollars of "free" caregiving services to support our healthcare system? "Family" caregivers are those individuals who provide care to a loved one who is chronically ill or disabled. "Family" is meant to be close friends, neighbors and partners, anyone who has an emotional attachment to the care recipient and who acts like family.
National Family Caregivers Month observed every November is a nationally recognized month that seeks to draw attention to the many challenges facing family caregivers, advocate for stronger public policy to address family caregiving issues, and raise awareness about community programs that support family caregivers. NFC Month is a time to thank, support, educate, and advocate for the family caregivers across the country.
The National Family Caregivers Association is a not-for-profit organization dedicated to empowering family caregivers and improving their overall quality of life by providing information, education, support, and advocacy, organizes NFC Month each year.
Today policy makers, employers, insurers, and healthcare professionals are beginning to address the concerns of family caregivers. It has been said that there are only four kinds of people in the world - those who have been caregivers, those who currently are caregivers, those who will be caregivers and those who will need caregivers.
Take action this month by either yourself or with family members, friends, or members of your church or synagogue to bring dinner to a caregiving family once a week, or provide respite time, leaf raking, or transportation. The goal is to take action and reach out to caregivers. Typically, family caregivers have great difficulty asking for help. You can make it easier for them to both ask for and accept help by offering something very specific and non-threatening such as the suggestions noted above.
David E Thomas, MD
Conneaut Lake
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