By Nicole Long, MSW, LICSW
CEO of Old Colony Elder Services
Did you know? One in four adults, or 63 million individuals, are family caregivers for older adults, people with disabilities and serious illnesses, according to the National Alliance for Caregiving. That’s an incredible number of people in the U.S. providing care to loved ones on an ongoing basis.
Do you know of a family caregiver? Perhaps you are one yourself. Family caregivers may be spouses, adult children, partners, parents, grandparents, relatives, and friends.
Each family caregiver’s situation is unique and complex. While caregiving for a loved one is very meaningful and rewarding, it can also be one of life’s most difficult jobs. Family caregivers often balance their caregiving responsibilities with their careers and families. These responsibilities can range from limited to extensive, including assisting loved ones with activities of daily living, such as eating, dressing, bathing, toileting, and getting around. They may also manage meals, medications, housekeeping, medical appointments, and finances. Caregiving responsibilities often increase over time.
Caregiving typically becomes a central part of a family caregiver’s life and may negatively affect their work, finances, and health. Working caregivers may be limited when it comes to career options or they may need to take time off, reduce their work hours, or even give up work entirely.
Workplace programs designed for caregivers can be invaluable. However, not all working family caregivers have access to this type of benefit. Working caregivers who reduce their work hours or stop working entirely must cope with the financial challenges caused by a reduction in income. Not only that, but family caregivers may also take on additional debt or pay out-of-pocket expenses to meet the needs of their loved one.
Caregiving is a complicated balancing act. Caregivers often put their loved ones’ needs first and neglect to take care of themselves. Keeping up with personal medical appointments, maintaining a healthy diet, exercising regularly, and time for rest can be a real challenge for family caregivers.
Throughout the caregiving journey, self-care and support are essential.
Old Colony Elder Services, the Aging Services Access Point (ASAP) for Greater Plymouth County and the South Shore area, supports family caregivers through its Family Caregiver Support Program (FCSP). It is a program that reassures families that they are not alone and that resources are available to support them in their caregiving journey.
FCSP provides one-on-one support to create a personalized plan outlining all the available resources that are applicable to their caregiving situation. These resources may include caregiver support groups, educational workshops, and programs that share techniques to help family caregivers with stress reduction, time management, goal setting, problem-solving, relaxation and more. FCSP works with people of all ages including grandparents raising their grandchildren. The program also helps caregivers develop a self-care plan, which is essential to their health and well-being.
November is National Family Caregivers Month. Join us as we honor family caregivers in their unwavering dedication to providing essential care for people of all ages.
If you are a family caregiver, do not hesitate to reach out, connect with others, and seek support. If you know a family caregiver, take a moment to let them know you care and ask how you can support them. For more information, call OCES at 508-584-1561 or visit ocesma.org.
Source: National Alliance for Caregiving. Caregiving in the US. https://www.caregiving.org/research/caregiving-in-the-us/
About the Author: Nicole Long is the Chief Executive Officer of Old Colony Elder Services (OCES). Founded in 1974, OCES is a private, non-profit organization proudly serving greater Plymouth County and surrounding communities. OCES is designated as one of 27 Aging Services Access Points (ASAPs) and Area Agencies on Aging (AAAs) in the Commonwealth of Massachusetts. OCES’s mission is to support the independence and dignity of older adults and individuals with disabilities by providing essential information and services that promote healthy and safe living. The agency offers a number of programs to serve older adults, individuals with disabilities, their families and caregivers. For more information call 508-584-1561 or visit www.ocesma.org.
