November is National Family Caregivers Month
As we approach the festive season – when focus is placed on family and quality time – it is imperative that we show appreciation for those who work tirelessly to provide care. Caregiving is a tough job, and it is often overlooked as a profession. This November, spearheaded by the Caregiver Action Network (CAN), we want to make sure our caregivers know how much they matter by reminding them that family caregivers are a key part of our national fabric.
November is National Family Caregivers Month, and this year’s theme is “Caregiving Around the Clock”. That means it is time for us all to recognize the people who lovingly give baths, clean houses, shop for, and comfort the millions of elderly and ill people who are friends and loved ones.
The observance enables all of us not only to celebrate the efforts of family caregivers, but also to raise awareness of caregiver issues, educate family caregivers about self-identification, and increase support for family caregivers.
History
Caregiver Action Network (the National Family Caregivers Association) began promoting national recognition of family caregivers in 1994. President Clinton signed the first NFC Month Presidential Proclamation in 1997 and every president since has followed suit by issuing an annual proclamation recognizing and honoring family caregivers each November. View the 2022 proclamation here.
Family Caregivers: By the Numbers
According to the 2020 report by the National Alliance for Caregiving (NAC) and AARP:
- The number of Americans providing unpaid care has increased from 2015 to 2020 – from 43.5 million to 53 million
- Nearly one in five (19%) are providing unpaid care to an adult with health or functional needs
- More Americans are caring for more than one person, from 18% in 2015 to 24% in 2020
- More family caregivers have difficulty coordinating care, from 19% to 26%
- More family caregivers report their own health as fair to poor (from 17% in 2015 to 21% in 2020)
- 23% of Americans say caregiving has made their health worse
As the demand for caregiving rises with an aging population, there is an opportunity for the public and private sectors to work together to develop solutions to support family caregivers and those under their care.
Why this Observance Matters
Caregiving while still holding down an outside job is exhausting. Caregiving can be a 24/7 job and can crowd out other important aspects of life, and much of it is unpaid. National Family Caregivers Month in November provides resources for self-care, advocacy, and de-stressing for our caregivers. The month is dedicated to supporting caregivers as they care for others.
This month, resources are made available to help caregivers cope with a tough (and sometimes thankless) job.
Caregiving Around the Clock
We must never underestimate the strength that caregivers have for providing this support to those people who need it the most, nor the toll that it can take both emotionally and physically upon them. As important as it is to take care of loved ones, they have to be reminded that it is just as important to take care of themselves.
Caregivers are the backbone of our society and they deserve to be honored for their service to others. Caregiving is not easy, but it is necessary. When you think about how many people rely on family members or friends to help them become more independent in their daily lives, it's clear that we all benefit from such assistance.
The problem with caregiving, however, is that it takes a toll on those who provide it as well as those who receive it. This means that caregivers need some extra support in order for them to continue doing what they do so well: caring for others.
Caregivers can face both emotional and physical challenges as they provide support to those in need. They may be responsible for providing care on a daily or weekly basis, or they may only be responsible when something happens that requires a higher level of attention than usual. Either way, the responsibility can take a toll on the caregiver's mental and physical health.
One way that caregivers can get some much-needed support is by checking out resources designed specifically for them by organizations like the Caregiver Action Network.
During National Family Caregivers Month, we recognize the challenges family caregivers face when their loved ones need Caregiving Around the Clock!