The Life of a Family Caregiver

November is National Family Caregivers Month, a time to be particularly kind to those that take care of aging members of the family. Many of those who are family caregivers are boomer women, sandwiched between the needs of their parents and their kids. They give, give, provide to loved ones, whereas typically sacrificing their own wants.

The Life of a Family Caregiver

I’m at home with the lifetime of a family caregiver. I was a caregiver to my late husband throughout his unwellness. For many months, I visited him in the hospital each evening, driving a long distance after a full day of work, then home to make dinner for my son, leaving little time to rest. Then I’d start the routine all over again.

Shortly after my husband died, my sister N and I became more active caregivers to my mom. We were grateful that mamma lived on her own for many of her senior years. When she became sick at eighty nine, we had to give care from afar because mom lived in Florida and N and I lived in the northeast, and that became quite difficult.

We set it absolutely was best for mamma to maneuver into associate power-assisted living surroundings wherever she would have the continued care she required. As devoted daughters, moving my mom was a tough decision. We were glad mamma thrived in her new home. She died in her early 90s.

My sister N and I were caregivers to my mom until she passed away a few years ago.

Being a family caregiver is a major commitment. Many of my friends United Nations agency have aging folks tell Pine Tree State of their challenges: once their begetter falls associated breaks an ankle joint or hip, when their mom forgets to take her drugs thanks to insanity} or another style of dementia, when they have to play the parent to their parents and take away driving privileges. So many “What should I do?” problems pile on family caregivers that their shoulders get weighed down.

How Can You Help?

The Ad Council and AARP have kicked off a program this month that is designed to encourage all Americans to perform a “random act of kindness” for a caregiver. This nationwide movement is an effort to raise awareness of caregiving while also reaching caregivers directly, rewarding them for their ongoing support.

The goal is simple: establish somebody in your life or in your community World Health Organization is serving as a caregiver and do one thing nice for them. It does not got to be sophisticated or overpriced, just a small gesture that makes a caregiver’s life a little easier.

For example, last month I invited my friend A to dinner. She works full-time at a demanding job and also cares for her aging dad. I treated her to a soothing yoga session and reminded her that tonight was entirely for her. She greatly appreciated the break.Simply submit a summary of 150 words or fewer telling how you made a caregiver feel special, along with a photo. All participants will be entered to win a cash prize from a $10,000 pot.

More Resources for Caregivers

AARP provides a tremendous number of online resources for family caregivers at its Caregiving Resource Center.
Forty million heroes square measure caregivers all hours of the day and night to their admired ones. It’s a crisis that is only going to grow larger as the baby boomer generation grows older. Reach out and show some kindness to a caregiver. Even simply paying attention to their stories will create a distinction.