By Guest Blogger: Charlie Martino
The month of November is a time to acknowledge the important role that family, friends and neighbors play in caring for older adults, individuals with disabilities and the chronically ill. There are currently over 65 million family caregivers in the U.S. (nearly 30% of the U.S. adult population) Not to be confused with professional caregivers, family caregivers are often untrained and highly stressed. Over 44 million of these caregivers are providing care to individuals over the age of 65. In fact many caregivers of older people are themselves older adults and many suffer from fair to poor health. What makes Eldercare especially challenging is that both the onset and its duration often are unpredictable. Physical and mental demands are commonly handled by the family without the help of outside resources. Unfortunately, many caregivers wait till there is a crisis before seeking help.
The family caregiving responsibilities at home do often lead to negative consequences at work. Research has shown 42% of U.S. workers have provided eldercare in the past five years. Another 49% of the workforce expects to be providing eldercare for a family member or friend in the coming five years. (National Alliance for Caregiving and AARP, 2009) Workers with Eldercare responsibilities commonly arrive late for work, leave early, take time off during the day, take leaves of absence, reduce work hours from full to part time and some even have to quit their jobs.
“Baby Boomers” turning 65 years of age at the rate of 10,000 per day is generating a proportionate increase in caregivers for older adults. The November Caregiver Month was created to provide our society with overall caregiver awareness and to take action to help. America depends on Caregivers.
What can you do to show support? You can help to celebrate by selecting one of these ideas:
- Since caregivers don’t usually ask for help, prepare your favorite dish and surprise a caregiver you know. If you don’t cook, then go buy some flowers and deliver them with a smile to a caregiver you know.
- Do you belong to some kind of community group or place of worship? Recognize caregivers by hosting a get-together to honor them.
- Contact your local political representative and ask them to prepare a resolution that can be read during a public hearing to recognize caregivers.
- Social media fans need to light up your network with acknowledgements that caregivers need to be recognized.
- Prepare a short note to a caregiver you know and offer to stay with their loved one so they can have a few hours off for themselves.
About the Author:
Charles P. Martino is a Gerontologist and started his business www.gerontecture.com to help caregivers and their families restore balance and improve their quality of life at home and in the workplace. As a long distance care provider for his own family, Charlie recognizes the importance of building a relationship with each family and each employer that he helps. You can contact him at info@gerontecture.com
If this topic interests you, be sure to listen in December to our “Ask The Expert” – Resources & Tips For Caregivers During The Holidays. Charlie will be featured as one of our experts…details coming soon!
