Celebrating National Family Caregivers Month
9 November 2021
Every November people around the country celebrate National Family Caregivers Month (NFCM). It is a great time to give thanks and respect to the many family caregivers in our communities. This month also presents a wonderful opportunity to shed some light on caregiving issues and the need for us to support caregivers in general.
Here at Rose’s Agency Home Care, our caregivers have nothing but respect for all the family members that support their elderly adults. We’re here to support them in improving the quality of life for their loved ones and to help them with the significant toll caregiving can take. There are an estimated 53 million adults providing care to a family member every year, and this number is only increasing as time goes by.
The Difficulties of Being a Family Caregiver
Family caregivers are often over the age of 50 themselves and can be vulnerable to a decline in health and wellbeing from taking on such a big responsibility. Thankfully, receiving support from our team can make a big difference in reducing any additional stress or anxiety that providing care may bring them.
Research studies have shown that family caregivers are often at a higher risk of both poor health and financial insecurity. The COVID-19 pandemic has only made these challenges more difficult as family members had to quarantine and navigate societal changes at work and with childcare in addition to their caregiving responsibilities. Many caregivers had to give up their jobs to take care of elderly parents or young children in the last two years.
Understanding Caregiving Challenges
It’s important that caregivers recognize the potential challenges they may face in providing support for loved ones. This may include difficult and unexpected emotions that may not be easy to understand or deal with. Caregiving also comes with physical demands and may bring new aches and pains to those providing care.
By knowing the potential difficulties of caregiving ahead of time, family caregivers can be more prepared in handling these challenges if and when they do arise. They can also reach out to support groups and medical professionals as needed to help them in different situations. It’s critical that family caregivers get help from those around them, which can include support from professional caregivers like those at Rose’s Agency Home Care.
How Caregivers Can Maintain Their Well-Being
When family caregivers make themselves a priority, everyone wins. After all, it is much easier to serve others when your gas tank is full and you’re not running on fumes. For this reason, caregivers should consistently practice a healthy lifestyle that includes strong nutritional habits, regular physical activity, and healthy ways to relieve their stress and anxiety. Doing so can help them stay both mentally and physically strong in the face of caregiving difficulties down the road. For example, strength training on a regular basis may make it easier to lift or physically support an elderly loved one who needs to get up or move. Stress-relieving activities such as yoga, meditation, and walking can prevent anxiety from building up and causing health problems for caregivers in different ways.
Conclusion
In conclusion, there are millions of family caregivers around the country that deserve our support and respect. It is so important for these individuals to prioritize their own well-being so they can take good care of their loved ones without hurting their own health. Here at Rose’s Agency Home Care, our team is always here to help family caregivers improve the quality of life for their elderly loved ones. To learn more about how we can help your family, please contact us to learn more!
For more questions about getting a loved one caregiver support, please contact us by clicking here.