November Is National Family Caregivers Month

November is National Family Caregivers Month in honor of the 44 million Americans who volunteer to support a family member, friend or neighbor with their health or in managing a disability. In 2014, the National Alliance for Caregiving and AARP surveyed 1,248 U.S. family caregivers, individuals age 18 and older who provide unpaid care to an adult or child. The survey found that among the U.S. caregivers interviewed:  82 percent care for one adult; 81 percent of primary caregivers live within 20 minutes of their care recipient. 60 percent of caregivers are female; 40 percent are male. 56 percent of caregivers work full-time; 25 percent work part-time. Caregivers invest 24.4 hours per week in helping with activities such as bathing, dressing, housework and managing finances. 38 percent note the demands of caregiving exact high emotional stress. Rewards and Challenges of Family Caregiving Offering support to a loved one who needs help is replete with positive and rewarding experiences such as stronger communication, relationship connections and personal satisfaction in making a tangible difference in a loved one’s life. Yet as enriching as caring for another can be, at times family caregivers can feel overwhelmed and exhausted. If care needs increase or the length of the illness stretches into several months or years, informal caregivers are vulnerable to common stress-related conditions including headaches and sleep deprivation. “Some symptoms of caregiver stress are more noticeable such as fatigue and body aches, but we need to stay aware of the possible emotional and financial strain to family caregivers, too,” said Beth Sholom, Owner/Executive Director of Right at Home of Central New Jersey. “Supporting family caregivers is vital to supporting care recipients. If we overlook any area of the caregivers’ overall health and well-being, we put their loved ones at risk.” Economic Impact of Family Caregiving Unpaid caregiving for a family member or other loved one creates a ripple effect on personal finances. Caregivers of older adults and adults with disabilities often face significant financial strain from out-of-pocket costs and long-term effects on savings and retirement accounts. “Many of these dedicated men and women are continually making tough choices as they earn an income to help support their own families and provide care for their loved one,” Beth Sholom explained. “Since in most states family leave is unpaid, the financial pressure can mount for employed caregivers who are squeezed between work and caregiving duties.” Emotional Impact of Family Caregiving The U.S. Department of Health & Human Services tracks the health and wellness of Americans and notes a number of signs and symptoms of emotional stress of family caregivers, including: Feeling alone, isolated or deserted by others. Feeling overwhelmed. Feeling worried or sad. Feeling tired. Losing interest in once-enjoyable activities. Flaring with irritation or anger. Over time, caregiver stress can significantly compromise one’s health. Among family caregivers, anxiety and depression are more likely to affect women than men, and left unchecked can weaken the immune system and lead to other health problems such as obesity, diabetes, heart disease and stroke. Support Resources for Family Caregivers “Caring for a loved one at home is never meant to be an isolated experience,” Beth Sholom said. “Every caregiver can benefit from accepting help from other family members and community resources. The extra support may be getting assistance with meals and housekeeping, seeking regular respite care, or planning ahead for possible crisis care. It’s encouraging to know that many of us equipped to help are just a quick phone call away.” Sholom suggests the following support resources for family caregivers: Home care services for personal care, meal preparation, housekeeping, companionship, etc. Home healthcare services for skilled nursing care, physical therapy, etc. Adult day programs. Financial counseling and tax credits for caregiving. Caregiver support groups. Veterans assistance. For nationwide and local support services for caregivers and adult care recipients, contact: National Association of Area Agencies on Aging — n4a.org,202-872-0888 Caregiver Action Network — caregiveraction.org, 202-454-3970 Hospice Foundation of America — hospicefoundation.org, 800-854-3402 Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services — cms.gov, 800-Medicare (800-633-4227) National Alliance for Caregiving — caregiving.org, 301-718-8444 Eldercare Locator — eldercare.acl.gov, 800-677-1116 National Institute on Aging — nia.nih.gov, 800-222-2225 Right at Home, Inc. is a national organization dedicated to improving the quality of life for those we serve. We fulfill that mission through a dedicated network of locally owned providers of in home care services. About Right at Home of Central New Jersey  –  Right at Home offers in-home companionship and personal care and assistance to seniors and disabled adults who want to continue to live independently. The Right at Home of Central New Jersey office is a locally owned and operated franchise office of Right at Home, Inc., serving the communities of Middlesex and Northern Monmouth Counties. For more information, contact Right at Home of Central New Jersey at http://www.rightathome.net/monmouth-middlesex/, 732-967-0900 or by email at beth@rahcentral.com.

Visit the Right at Home of Central New Jersey Website