Are you a caregiver? Caring for a family member or friend, is an act of dedication and love. National Family Caregivers Month recognizes the more than 53 million family caregivers across the country who provide comfort to millions of sick and elderly family or friends. It’s important to raise awareness of caregivers, to increase support and educate communities to their needs.
The Caregiver Action Network reports that more than 65 million people, 29% of the U.S. population, provide care for a chronically ill, disabled, or aged family member or friend during any given year and spend an average of 20 hours per week providing care for their loved one. It is determined that 51% of care recipients live in their own home, and 29% live with their family caregiver. And, it is a tough job!
Being a caregiver takes a significant emotional, and financial toll. Coordinated support services can reduce caregiver stress. The Colorado Department of Human Services connects people with assistance, resources and support for living independently in our state.
In 1893 the Visiting Nurse Society was established to provide elder care. This was an innovative idea as a way to help the elderly poor with charitable in-home care. After this time, families became the primary source of support for older adults and people with disabilities in the U.S.
Caregiving Co-ordinated
There are many benefits to helping out a friend or family member who needs assistance, but every caregiver needs to stay healthy also. Family caregivers jump in during a crisis, but can find themselves doing more and more for someone who is chronically ill or disabled. That’s when they need to take control and try to attend to their personal needs. It is okay to accept offers of help, try to embrace technology and make time for yourself.
It can prove invaluable to coordinate with GoldLeaf Home Health. They offer a broad range of home health care services to clients of all ages. They efficiently provide nursing care for short-term or ongoing care needs, ranging from basic wound care after surgery to complex, high-tech care.
Rehabilitation and therapeutic services include physical, occupational, and speech therapy. There are also assistive care services that help clients with self-care needs and household tasks so they can continue living independently at home.
GoldLeaf Home Health Care is revolutionizing the home care industry to provide greater individual independence and quality of life at all ages. There are so many ways to support a caregiver and they do it with compassion and uncompromised values. Use this month’s theme from National Family Caregivers Month, to reach out to a family caregiver and tell them how grateful the world is for all that they do.