Experts predict that by 2050 the number of older Americans (65 and older) will surpass the number of younger Americans (21 and younger) for the first time in history. Currently, there are over 50 million people providing unpaid care to a family member or loved one in the United States. If you are one of them, your caregiving undoubtedly affects you and your immediate family in a variety of ways. It is you, and others like you, who are celebrated during National Family Caregivers Month (NFCM) to acknowledge the millions of family caregivers who are caring for their loved ones with a chronic disease. The Indianapolis attorneys at Frank & Kraft discuss honoring a caregiver for National Family Caregivers Month.
Providing Unpaid Care Takes a Toll on the Caregiver
You have likely been providing unpaid care to a family member or another loved one without giving any thought to how your selfless caregiving may be negatively impacting your physical and mental health as well as your finances. Data compiled by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), however, tells us that unpaid caregiver suffer mentally, physically, and financially with about 15 percent of caregivers admitting to having at least one mentally unhealthy day and another 18 percent having at least one physically unhealthy day during the most recent month. Ultimately, your ability to continue to provide unpaid care will depend, to a large extent, on taking care of yourself first. Caregivers, however, are often not very good at caring for themselves. During NFCM we look to other family members and friends to make an effort to help care for the family caregiver.
How Can You Help a Family Caregiver?
Maybe you cannot be the family caregiver, but there is almost certainly something you can do to help. Nothing is too insignificant and many of the things you can do to help to not require a financial investment, such as:
- Pre-make meals. Make a dinner that can be frozen for your loved one or make dinner for the family caregiver and his/her family one night a week.
- Arrange for food delivery. Whether you have a hot meal delivered once a week or arrange for groceries to be delivered as needed, the time and money you are saving the caregiver can be significant.
- Offer to drive or arrange transportation. Maybe you can’t stick around for the entire appointment or activity, but you can offer to drive or arrange for a rideshare such as Uber or Lyft.
- Clean the house. Once a month, come in and do a thorough housecleaning for your loved one or for the family caregiver.
- Buy a gift certificate to a favorite shop. Remind a caregiver that he/she is appreciated with a $10 gift certificate to Starbucks, Target, or another favorite shop.
- Take over the finances. Offer to spend one night a month balancing the checkbook or paying the bills.
- Coordinate services and appointments. Take over scheduling and coordinating services and appointments such as home healthcare and medical appointments. The time that saves the family caregiver can be valuable.
- Spend time with your loved one. Sometimes, caregiving is as simple as being there. Give the family caregiver a break by spending some time with your loved one. You will likely find that you get as much out of doing so as your loved one and the family caregiver do.
How Will You Celebrate National Caregivers Month?
For more information, please join us for an upcoming FREE seminar. If you have questions or concerns about family caregivers, contact the experienced Indianapolis elder law attorneys at Frank & Kraft by calling (317) 684-1100 to schedule an appointment.
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