Family Caregivers provide much of the care or assistance for people with health problems or disabilities living in the community. They help family members or friends with activities necessary for daily living, such as bathing and dressing, paying bills, shopping, and running errands. Caregiving can also include emotional support or help to manage a chronic disease or disability. Caregiving can occur in the caregiver's home, the care recipient's home, or a long distance.
Care Recipients are adults or children with a chronic illness, disabling condition, or an older person who needs ongoing assistance with everyday tasks to function daily. The person needing help may also require primary and acute medical care or rehabilitation services (occupational, speech, and physical therapies).
Every caregiver's role and responsibilities are unique. Perhaps, you may have undertaken the role of a family caregiver for a family member who requires assistance a few days a week in their home, assisting a loved one that you had to move into your home, or a friend recovering from major surgery. You may be a long-distance caregiver caring for a disabled child or a family member with Alzheimer's. You may be a youth trying to balance school, social activities, and caring for a disabled sibling. Caregiving, no matter where the caregiver lives, is often long-lasting and ever-expanding. Whatever the circumstances, caregivers share a universal oneness. There is that connection, and caregivers find it easy to emphasize with other caregivers. The joy, fulfillment, and contentment of assuring a loved one is cared for as you want to be cared for are rewarding. Family caregiver roles are rewarding; however, family caregivers often face many challenges. Are you a family caregiver, a Baby Boomer, or foresee yourself taking on the caregiving role soon? What stage of the caregiver's spectrum are you in? Bear in mind that undertaking a family caregiver's role can be subtle, sudden, or unpredictable.
Take a moment out of your busy day to acknowledge and encourage a caregiver in your family, church, community, or place of employment. Family caregivers are significant in our family, community, and healthcare system, and they need to know that they are not alone in this caregiving journey. November is National Family Caregivers Month; consider nominating someone to be recognized at our 16th Annual Virtual Gala. Nomination forms are on the website at www.comeoutreach.org.
Don't forget to RSVP for our upcoming monthly 45 mins zoom information session, "Are you there yet"? The October session will be held on Thursdays, October 20, 2022, at 7 pm. Please RSVP on the website.
