November is National Family Caregivers Month, and we will be celebrating that on this blog. You can read more about National Caregivers Month from the National Council on Aging here. Every week we are going to cover a different family caregiver-related topic. We will talk about this week’s topic tomorrow, but I wanted to take a minute to introduce our celebration and talk about family caregiving.
What Are Family Caregivers?
Family caregivers are people who care for older adults or disabled adults. This term usually refers to people who are caring for their loved ones in an unpaid capacity, but you do not have to be related to someone to be a “family caregiver.” You can be a family caregiver for a neighbor or friend.
What Happens to Family Caregivers When They Hire a Professional Caregiver?
That’s something that we will be discussing this month, but family caregivers are essential parts of the care team. Most people do not have 24/7 professional care, and even if they do, that does not mean that family caregivers don’t contribute to the team. Often they contribute a kind of companionship that only comes from knowing someone for many years, and they often have insight into the client’s routine before they started receiving care. This is important because it can help inform the rest of care team of the client’s baseline.
What topics would you like to see covered? Comment below and stay tuned to our blog!
Written by Brigid Stakelum
