A Resounding Thank You to
Family of Caregivers
By Lance Hegland
According to National Family
Caregivers Association, during 2003 Minnesota ranked as the 21st
most-prevalent, family-care-giving state with approximately a half
million family caregivers providing a half billion hours of unpaid
care per year, which would normally cost $4.5 billion per year. Nationally,
there are approximately 27 million family caregivers providing 29
billion hours of unpaid care annually at an estimated value of $257
billion. Those numbers are almost impossible to imagine! In other
words, nearly one out of 11 Minnesotans provided 21 hours, or approximately
$200 worth of unpaid care per week for a family member.
Each year, the month of November has been set aside nationally to
recognize the hard work, dedication, intense compassion, and tremendous
security family caregivers provide. It is a time to think about the
various challenges family caregivers face: often a lack of understanding
by employers, lack of instruction by healthcare professionals, and
lack of community support. In response, numerous organizations are
working to raise awareness about community programs that offer support,
guidance, and advocacy for family caregivers.
What is a family caregiver?
Carol Levine, a family care-giver and the Director of the Families
and Health Care Project at the United Hospital Fund of New York,
says, “The two parts of the term
are equally important. ‘Family’ denotes a special personal
relationship with the care recipient; one based on birth, adoption,
marriage, or declared commitment. ‘Care-giver’ is the
job description, which may include providing personal care, carrying
out medical procedures, managing a household, and interacting with
the formal healthcare and social service systems on another’s
behalf. Caregivers are more than the sum of their responsibilities;
they are real people with complex and often conflicted responses
to the situations they face.”
This November, the National Family Caregivers Association will introduce
a new theme for National Family Caregivers Month: Caring Every Day,
which corresponds with their Caring Every Day Campaign. The Caring
Every Day Campaign encourages family caregivers to take three steps
every day (Believe in Yourself, Protect Your Health, and Reach Out
for Help) to make their lives easier, improve care, and raise awareness
about their continued love and commitment.
Everyone can participate—it is very simple! Care recipients
and family members can create Certificates of Appreciation for family
caregivers. Friends, neighbors, and other community members can offer
support by providing respite time; bringing over dinner; offering
dinner out; or performing handyman, housekeeping, or transportation
activities. Churches can acknowledge and honor the activities of
family caregivers with a special worship service. Local businesses
can offer discount cards or gift certificates, especially for products
and services that “pamper” caregivers. Community groups
can help decorate for the holidays or address holiday cards. The
opportunities are endless!
For more information
about potential activities, local organizations, the Caring Every
Day Campaign, or National Family Caregivers’ Month,
please contact the National Family Caregivers Association by calling
800-896-3650, e-mailing info@thefamilycaregiver.org,
or visiting their website at www.thefamilycaregiver.org.
