National Family Caregiver Month

2744 Robert Jackson Drive,Virginia Beach VA 23452

19 November, 2022

Description

What Does It Mean To Be a Family Caregiver? Throughout our lives, our relationships to our family can change drastically. When you’re a child, your family cares for you before you strike out on your own. However, there can also come a time when you find yourself caring for the very people who once cared for you. What Is a Family Caregiver? A family caregiver is technically any family member who cares for another who is unable to live independently. They do this unpaid. While this can include parents caring for their children, nearly half of family caregivers care for adult members of their family, often seniors or those with conditions that make them unable to care for themselves. In some cases, family caregivers find themselves caring for their parents or grandparents while they still have underage children living with them. This caregiving can go on for months, while the loved one recovers from an illness or injury, or can go on for years, until the end of that loved one’s life. What Does a Family Caregiver Do? The duties of a caregiver can be different depending on the individual being cared for. It may mean going grocery shopping for them if they have mobility issues or helping them to get around. It might mean preparing their food or ensuring that they take their meds at the proper times. Some common caregiver duties include: • Managing the living situation for that loved one. • Performing medical advocacy and sometimes serving as POA. • Helping with personal care like bathing, grooming, or feeding. • Overseeing your loved one’s medication intake and medical appointments. • Driving them where they need to go or running errands for them. Above all of this, a family caregiver offers companionship. Senior citizens who are retired and have conditions that limit their activity can often struggle with loneliness and feel cut off from their family and friends. A family caregiver is a regular companion who helps them to feel less alone and more actively cared for. Submit your Family Caregiver Today Sometimes the transition into becoming a family caregiver can be a sudden one. A diagnosis or an unexpected injury could drastically change the life of your loved one — and you, by extension. You may find yourself at a loss for how to handle caregiving. Fortunately, just as your loved one has support, Health & Awareness and Giving With A Golden Hand host this annual appreciation day. Our volunteers are ready to accept your nominations. All family caregivers' names will be listed in our program booklet and only a few will have their picture and write up printed in the program. We welcome new, struggling, and individuals interested in family caregiving. Reach out to us today to learn more.