There are four kinds of people in the world:
Those who have been caregivers;
Those who currently are caregivers;
Those who will be caregivers;
Those who will need a caregiver.
– Rosalynn Carter (Former First Lady)
There are more than 65 million Americans who care for loved ones with a chronic disease or disability, or the frailties of old age. Too all of those caregivers, each and every one, we want to take minute to thank and celebrate you.
Caregiving can be very rewarding, yet extremely challenging. Awareness of the emotional needs of caregivers and their families has risen in recent years and an increasing number of healthcare organizations are offering support services to address these needs.
By sharing resources and offering support, we can help caregivers get connected and access services and assistance when challenges arise. If you are a caregiver, we encourage you to share your story and get connected with others as part of the Caregiver Action Network (CAN) Story Project. You can join the CAN for free and submit your story online: http://caregiveraction.org/resources/can-story-project
10 Tips for Family Caregivers
- Seek support from other caregivers. You are not alone!
- Take care of your own health so you can be strong enough to take care of your loved one
- Accept offers of help and suggest specific things people can do to help you
- Learn how to communicate effectively with doctors
- Caregiving is hard work so take respite breaks often
- Watch out for signs of depression and don’t delay in getting professional help when needed
- Be open to new technologies that can help you care for your loved one
- Organize medical information so it is up to date and easy to find
- Make sure legal documents are in order
- Give yourself credit for doing the best you can in one of the toughest jobs there is
Included below are some additional handouts to help navigate healthcare needs for an individual:
40/70 Rule Booklet: A Guide to Conversation Starters for Boomers and Their Senior Loved Ones
There are several virtual educational materials available to assist individuals, caregivers and their loved ones:
- Medicare & You: National Family Caregivers Month YouTube Video
- Independent Living Assessment: Reviewing Functional Abilities
- Interactive Conversation Tree for Caregivers
Additional Resources
- Medicare Caregiver Resources: http://www.medicare.gov/campaigns/caregiver/caregiver.html
- Medicare Caregiver Resource Kit: http://www.medicare.gov/campaigns/caregiver/caregiver-resource-kit.html
- Medicare Community: Caregiver Stories: http://www.medicare.gov/campaigns/caregiver/caregiver-stories.html
- Caregiver Action Network: http://caregiveraction.org/
- Family Caregiver Alliance: http://www.caregiving.org/
- U.S. Administration on Aging: http://www.aoa.gov/
In honor of National Family Caregivers Awareness Month, the Great Plains Quality Innovation Network recognizes the dedication and commitment of your efforts. We thank you for your service and compassion. We celebrate you and thank you!