November marks National Family Caregivers Month and as a special thanks we want to honor all the family caregivers who have dedicated their lives to helping others! Every year, the American Heart Association/American Stroke Association recognizes and celebrates National Family Caregivers Month (NFCM) by acknowledging the many family caregivers out there who are looking over a loved one.
With millions of family caregivers in the United States, a little support and acknowledgement goes a long way. Are you looking to get involved this month? How do you plan on showing your support? American Standard is here to guide the way. Learn more about some of the top ways you can show your support and acknowledge the family caregiver heroes this month and beyond.
Ways to Support Caregivers
A lot of responsibility weighs on caregivers’ shoulders. This month, offer additional help when caring for your loved ones. Reaching out and offering a hand is just a small gesture that can really go a long way. Caregivers tend to keep it together and become the rock of the family, but even the strongest family member has their down days.
You can make a difference in both the caregiver’s life and the lives of those under their care. In addition to offering help, you can also provide caregiver resource guides provided by the American Heart Association/American Stroke Association. These resources can be helpful when navigating through the everyday tasks of giving care for a family member.
1. Encourage Self-Love & Self-Care
Becoming the caregiver of the family is no easy task, and is no 9 to 5 job. With that being said, it’s hard for the family caregiver to really focus on “me time.” This month, encourage some self-love for your family’s caregiver and push them to focus on themselves for a few hours out of the day. To make this happen, schedule some time out of your day to take over for the caregiver. This allows them to go out and get a much needed massage, enjoy some quiet time reading their favorite book, or simply just enjoy a cup of coffee.
Encouraging self-love and relaxation offers the family caregiver to regroup their thoughts, take some time off from the hustle and bustle of everyday life, and fully recharge to take on the next day. Supporting your family caregiver is encouraged during National Family Caregivers Month, and all year round!
2. Gift Something Special to a Caregiver
Whether you’re offering a nice dinner out, or a gift card, or even just a few hours off to fill their day how they want, gifting something special for someone special is a great way to show the caregiver in your family that you truly care! For a caregiver, every day means focusing on someone else’s needs, happiness, and comfort.
Gifting them with something special can really go a long way. Get to know the caregiver in your family so you can truly gift them with something that they will love, and something that they most definitely deserve.
3. Create a Network of Support
Caregivers are known for keeping it all together and being their own support system. But even at times the caregiver can benefit tremendously from a network of support.
One way to do this is by linking up with The Care Community through the Caregiver Action Network. With this, your family caregiver has access to a forum where they can ask questions and gain support from fellow caregivers. Along with a forum, the Caregiver Action Networks offers helpful articles, videos, and personal stories that provide support in many different ways.
In addition to this caregiver network, The American Heart Association/American Stroke Association also provides a support network where family caregivers can connect with people just like them. Depending on who you are caring for and what their condition is, this support network offers everything you need for daily encouragement.
4. Offer Additional Resources to Help Out
Even the best caregivers can’t do it all! Offering additional resources to make their days easier is a simple way that you can help. Setting up a Meals on Wheels service to deliver food to the front door, and a house cleaning service, or a community service is a small act that can go a long way. Do some research around your community, and see what resources are available to make life easier on your special caregiver.
Give your family caregiver the support and recognition that they deserve this month. Although November is National Family Caregivers Month, you can still celebrate the caregiver in your family’s life all year long.
