November is National Family Caregivers Month - a time to recognize, honor and raise awareness of family caregivers across the country. This year’s theme for National Family Caregivers Month, #CaregiversConnect, highlights the many ways that caregivers make connections and how important those connections are. When #CaregiversConnect, whether for support, information, or just to talk to someone who understands what they’re going through, it can help them feel less isolated, stressed and alone.
Caregivers connect in the waiting room at a doctor’s office when they start talking to the caregiver next to them or during a Zoom meeting with a partner’s neurologist to talk about dementia symptoms. In a staff meeting at work, a caregiver might connect with a co-worker over shared experiences balancing work and caregiving. Or they may connect with someone who can point them toward helpful resources when they call a help desk or attend a support group.
To help ease the burden that caregivers face, Community Care Corps supports local programs that engage volunteers to help older adults and adults with disabilities with nonmedical assistance so that they can remain living in their homes and stay connected to their communities. Volunteers help with services such as simple household tasks, daily errands and door-to-door assistance to non-emergency medical appointments and outpatient procedures. Many care recipients also benefit from this increased companionship that helps avert the devastating effects of isolation. This support is vital for individuals to maintain the ability to live independently. Programs funded by Community Care Corps also offer caregiver training, care coordination, and respite programs so that caregivers feel supported and have the time to take care of themselves.
As the leading family caregiver organization working to improve the quality of life, promote resourcefulness and respect for the more than 90 million Americans who care for loved ones with chronic conditions, disabilities, disease, or the frailties of old age, Caregiver Action Network (CAN) proudly partners with Oasis, USAging and Altarum, with funding through the U.S. Administration for Community Living (ACL), to support these local programs. The objectives of Community Care Corps align with CAN’s mission to promote respect for family caregivers. Its goals are to create resourceful and capable caregivers, increase respect for family caregivers and reduce caregiver stress. The programs supported by Community Care Corps have similar goals.
To learn more about some of the innovative ways that Community Care Corps grantees are serving their communities, explore program summaries. You can also read the 2020-2021, 2021-2022 and 2022-2023 Grantee Snapshots publications for more on the impact that the grantees are having.
For more information on National Family Caregivers Month, visit www.caregiveraction.org/caregiversconnect and the ACL website. Join the conversation using #CaregiversCo