Each year, the President of the United States proclaims November National Family Caregivers Month (or NFC Month). It’s an opportunity to thank, support and celebrate the more than 50 million family caregivers across America who currently provide an estimated $300+ billion in unpaid caregiving services. This year, NFC Month will focus on the theme of “Speak Up for Your Rights,” which encourages family caregivers to do just that. It will be an opportunity to advocate for stronger public policy addressing family caregiving issues, and to raise awareness about community programs supporting family caregivers.
Over the next few days, we’ll be posting link and stories from the National Family Caregiver Association. The first follows this post. To learn more about this month and the activities, visit the NFCA Website.
Here is a brief sample from the NFCA website…
We can actively choose to:
- Set limits on what we can comfortably achieve without risk to ourselves and our loved ones.
- Be flexible and realize as circumstances change so do our choices and abilities.
- Allow our loved ones to do as much for themselves as they possibly can so they can maintain a sense of control and self perceived independence.
- Recognize our strengths and acknowledge our limitations.
- Learn to say “no.”
- Ask for help.
- Take time for respite.
Notice one of the key elements to this section of advice from the NFCA: take time for respite. No other company out there can provide respite for and your family members like Home Instead Senior Care.
Respite is a noun defined by Webster’s as “a delay or cessation for a time, esp. of anything distressing or trying; an interval of relief: to toil without respite.”
On a personal note, my grandmother recently lost her husband and one of her sons in a short four month period. My grandmother cared for my grandfather for fifteen years as he deteriorated from Parkinson’s disease, and then cared for my uncle as he suffered from cancer. Caregiving was her life. She lived to keep them alive. No matter how hard we tried to help her, or to provide her with respite care, she refused it. Now, after burying her son last week, she finds herself sitting at home without much to do but sort through my uncle’s things. This, of course, does nothing for her but make things even more depressing.
One thing we overlook as professionals is the effect death has on a caregiver, and the importance of them needing companionship and respite after their job is done as well.
I am proud to work for Home Instead, because we understand that respite doesn’t end when a family member passes. It continues to help the caregiver re-acclimate with life, to adjust to a new way of living.
Can we help you or a loved one? If so, please don’t hesitate to call us at our Birmingham office at 248-203-2273, or visit our website at www.homeinstead.com.
This month is about you – our nation’s caregivers. Take time to educate yourself and really get a grasp on taking care of you, so that you can be the amazing person you are when you care for others.
To read more about the National Family Caregivers Month, visit the blog Michigan Home Care Experts.
