Are you a family caregiver? Do you:
If you answered yes to any of these questions, then you are considered a family caregiver.
According to estimates from the National Alliance for Caregiving, during the past year, 43.5 million Americans, young and old, are family caregivers for relatives or friends who may be ill, disabled or frail. They provide care for both children and adults.
The network of family caregivers encompasses a diverse group of individuals spanning various ages, racial and ethnic backgrounds, gender, education, income and occupation.
Family caregivers experience both stress and disruption of their own well-being and social activities when caring for a loved one. As a caregiver, it is important that you take the time to consider your own well-being and take care of yourself too.
Step back and take a moment to consider if the stress is manageable or if you are feeling an excessive amount of psychological or physical strain, worsening health problems or feeling overburdened. In either case, or particularly if the stress of caregiving is becoming too big of a burden, there are ways to help take better care of yourself.
These web pages will equip you with information and resources to help:
There are a number of organizations devoted to helping caregivers. See resources below to connect yourself to support you may need.
Find programs, services and resources that are available in your geographic area. These tools can help you determine your eligibility for assistance, find caregiver support and respite services, locate resources for children with special needs and older adults, and link to legal and health care resources.
Connecting with Caregivers was developed in 2016 with the support of Rebecca Delaney, MS. It provides practical guidance for family caregivers and is a companion to the APA Family Caregiver Briefcase that is for professional audiences.
