Engaging Caregivers – National Caregiver Month

November is National Caregiver Month

Are you a caregiver?

  • Do you currently provide unpaid assistance to someone who is unable to fully care for themselves?  This can be a family member, neighbor, or friend.
  • Do you live with someone who can no longer live by themself because they can no longer manage their own care?
  • Do you help someone with daily activities such as bathing, getting dressed, going to the grocery store?
  • Do you find yourself cleaning and cooking for your neighbor on a regular basis?

Many people think of a caregiver as someone who gets paid to provide care and support to another person.  More often than not this is not the case.  Many caregivers are persons who are family members, friends, or neighbors.  During National Caregiver month we want RECOGNIZE and ENGAGE caregivers for the tireless dedication to those they care for on a daily basis.

Celebrated every November, National Family Caregivers Month (NFCM) is a time to recognize and honor family caregivers across the country. It offers an opportunity to raise awareness of caregiving issues, educate communities, and increase support for caregivers.  Read President Biden’s NFCM proclamation.

The national observance is spearheaded by Caregiver Action Network (CAN), a nonprofit that provides free education, peer support, and resources to family caregivers. CAN announced the 2021 theme, #CaregiverAnd which encourages family caregivers to celebrate the passions and interests that enrich their lives. Many caregivers find themselves sandwiched between caregiving roles such as caring for kids, working, and caring for family members or neighbors.  The #CaregiverAnd hashtag recognizes the many roles caregivers take on that overshadow their identity.  Through this movement, caregivers are encouraged to share why it is important to not lose sight of who they are.  #CaregiverAnd shifts the focus, by highlighting the other roles, activities, and passions that make up a   caregiver’s life (Caregiveraction.org, 2021).  Visit the site to read and share your stories https://www.caregiveraction.org/caregiverand

Join the Caring for the Caregiver Advisory Council!

Through the Caring for the Caregiver Advisory Council, we ENGAGE caregivers on a monthly basis.  Through participation in the Caregiver Advisory Council, the voices of caregivers are integrated into our services, research, and community engagement.  Members of the council inform our programs on emerging needs and how we can best respond to these needs. Please consider joining the Caring for the Caregiver Community Advisory Council. We meet on the second Wednesday of the month from 12 pm to 1:15 pm over Zoom. Members help to inform services and research conducted at Caring for the Caregiver. Thank you to all current members! We are seeking to add up to 3 new members. Please contact Kylie Meyer (meyerk1@uthscsa.edu) if you have any questions or would like to learn more.

Article Categories: News, Newsletter