Supporting Caregivers During National Family Caregivers Month

If you have ever felt underappreciated and unrecognized in your role as family caregiver, this month is for you! November is National Family Caregivers Month, a time for supporting family caregivers and to celebrate the tireless work and dedication you invest in making sure a loved one’s life is the best it can be.

It is Not Always Easy…But You Are Making a Difference

Take a moment to think about what a day in the life of family caregiving involves. Your first thoughts are never for yourself, but for the overall health of someone you love. Thanks to you, an older family member:

• Obtains the support and help needed to accomplish the daily tasks of living that may have become challenging to take care of on their own
• Can enjoy healthy meals
• Never has to be worried about facing the challenges of aging alone
• Has a companion to brighten each day through conversations, outings, and fun activities
• And so much more

Caregiving is a rewarding but challenging endeavor, and we are committed to supporting caregivers for the selfless work you do each and every day.

You Are in Good Company

As reported in an AARP study, unpaid family caregiving amounts to more than $600 billion in care. This mind-blowing statistic translates to 38 million family caregivers who care for a loved one an average of 18 hours per week. To put that into perspective, this far surpasses the $433 billion spent annually in out-of-pocket healthcare costs by everyone in the United States.

But You Can’t Do It All Alone

Family caregivers often feel as though there isn’t anyone who knows the older family member better than they do, and therefore no one can provide the same level of care. While the first part of this may very well be true, the fact is that trying to meet all of a loved one’s care needs independently is not healthy for either the care receiver or the caregiver.

In order to offer the best care for someone you love, you must take care of yourself, too. Feeling worn down and burned out leads to lower patience levels, less attention to detail, and more frustration and stress—a recipe for a number of adverse effects, including:

• Relationship issues with other family members and friends who also need your attention and time
• Sleeping issues
• Self-medication through unhealthy means
• An increased risk of injury to the older adult from a medication mishap, fall, or other accident
• Anger, resentment, and other complicated emotions
• Caregiver depression as well as other serious health issues
• And much more

The Solution

The very best way you can celebrate National Family Caregivers Month is by acknowledging the need for support to allow yourself to take time to care for yourself. Compassionate Nursing Services’ respite care services are the ideal way to obtain a healthier life balance while ensuring the high quality care a loved one deserves.

We are dedicated to supporting caregivers like you and helping you to prioritize your own health and wellness without compromising the care your loved ones receive. Contact us at 314-432-4312 for more information on our customized in-home respite care for older adults in Clayton, Oakville, Town and Country, and the surrounding areas.