Reach Out to Caregivers for National Family Caregivers Month

Each November, the United States President declares the month as National Family Caregivers Month. These often overlooked individuals, an estimated more than 65 million people or 29% of the U.S. population, provide care for chronically ill, disabled or aged family members or friends.
 
The value of the services family caregivers provide for "free" when caring for older adults, is estimated to be $375 billion a year. That is almost twice as much as is actually spent on homecare and nursing home services combined ($158 billion)!
 
As valuable as these services are, caring for an aging loved one is not "free" at the cost of the caregivers’ health, as more than one in 10 family caregivers report that caregiving has caused their physical health to detoriate.
 
National Family Caregivers Month is a great opportunity to reach out to family caregivers in your community, or if you are a caregiver, to seize this opportunity to ask for help! Here are some ideas to celebrate these valuable people:
 
• Offer a few hours of respite time to a family caregiver so they can spend time with friends or simply relax.
• Send a card of appreciation or a bouquet of flowers to brighten up a caregiver’s day.
• Help a family caregiver decorate their home for the holidays or offer to address envelopes for their holiday cards.
• Find 12 different family photos and have a copy center create a monthly calendar that the caregiver can use to keep track of appointments and events.
• Offer to prepare Thanksgiving dinner for a caregiving family in your community, so they can just relax and enjoy the holiday.
• Tell a caregiver about the services Allegheny Lutheran Social Ministries (ALSM) offers. These programs can decrease caregivers’ burdens and give them peace of mind while their loved ones are in our care.ALSM at Home offers in-home assistance with light housekeeping, meal preparation, laundry and personal care. Visits can be scheduled for a one-hour minimum.Senior Daily Living Centers offers center-based care for aging adults or those with cognitive disabilities. This respite care can be for a minimum of an hour each day or for all day.
 
Respite care is offered through personal care at The Lutheran Home at Johnstown for caregivers who are going away or need a break. This provides care and supervision for their loved ones during the day and at night.
 
To learn more about any of ALSM’s programs or services, please visit www.alsm.org or call 800.400.2285. Allegheny Lutheran Social Ministries is a faith-based non-profit organization serving the generations for more than 60 years.
Statistical information from the National Family Caregiver Association at www.thefamilycaregiver.org