Throughout the month of November, Family Caregivers are recognized for the time, energy and resources they devote to caring for aging family members. According to Caregiving in the United States, published In November 2009 by the National Alliance for Caregiving in collaboration with AARP, the average number of hours family caregivers spend caring for their loved ones is 20 hours per week; 13% of family caregivers provide 40 hours of care a week or more.
With Thanksgiving Day this week, it’s a perfect time to do something special for the family caregivers in your life. A bouquet of flowers, a card with a handwritten note, the gift of a home-baked goody or an invitation to share Thanksgiving dinner – what matters the most is that we all take time to thank those who give unselfishly to support parents, grandparents, aunts, uncles and other family members, so they can continue to live at home in a secure and loving environment for as long as possible.
Through the Triangle J Area Agency on Aging, the Family Caregiver Support Program works with local counties and towns to generate and offer support to family members who care for senior relatives at home. Direct assistance to caregivers is developed in the form of local resource information; assistance in accessing services; support groups, caregiver training, and individual counseling; respite care; and supplemental services.
From the Area Agency on Aging we wish you a Happy Thanksgiving.
