To honor the caregiver in our community, I am offering a 35% discount off my book, Successfully Navigating Your Parents’ Senior Years for the entire month.
Click below and enter the coupon code CAREGIVER when checking out to have the discount apply. You are not limited to one book so think about the coming holiday season and take advantage of this one-month discount! Give a gift that will help families make better educated and informed decisions!
https://benbellabooks.com/shop/successfully-navigating-your-parents-senior-years/
When you stop to think that one in five Americans is a caregiver you begin to see that your friends, your neighbors, and a large percentage of our community are in some kind of caregiving role. In fact, 24% of caregivers are caring for 2 or more people. Many of you who receive this newsletter are caregivers or involved in helping to provide care personally and professionally! Let’s remember this may mean caring for an older person, but it includes caring for anyone disabled at any age. How many of you know someone caring for their parents or a loved one while caring for young children or a special needs child at home?
As Roslyn Carter so eloquently said:
“There are only four kinds of people in the world…
Those who have been caregivers,
Those who currently are caregivers,
Those who will be caregivers,
And those who will need caregiving.”
AARP and the National Alliance for Caregiving released their national survey in 2020 that showed 53 million Americans are providing unpaid care to a family or friend, up 9.3 million from 2015. I am sure these numbers are even higher now, three years later! Over 61% of caregivers are women, 23% say caregiving has had a negative impact on their own health, and more and more people are caring for those with cognitive impairment. This survey also chronicles the emotional and financial stress experienced by most caregivers and does a deep dive into race, gender, and socioeconomic groups. If you want to see the full survey here is a link:
https://www.caregiving.org/research/caregiving-in-the-us/caregiving-in-the-us-2020/
Tips for Caregivers and their Families
I loved this (edited) article from AARP that talks about the simple things we can do to thank the caregivers you know:
- Be with them.
This means just sitting, listening non-judgmentally, doing things together like a lunch out and more.
- Make it possible for them to take a break!
This means don’t just encourage them to take a break; plan for it! Offer and follow up-don’t wait to be asked. Spend time with loved one so they can have scheduled time off. Help pay for respite care!
- Actively demonstrate your support.
This means cook or order a meal for delivery. Do housework or yard work or pay to have someone do it if possible. Help them get organized.
- Tell them how great they are!
Celebrate their victories small and large. Tell them you see their resilience in even the most difficult circumstances. Send edible treats! Bring fresh flowers!
- Encourage their self-care.
Remind them it is not selfish to care for themselves! They need to fill up, so they have the internal fuel to keep on caregiving!
Here is the link for the full article:
https://www.aarp.org/caregiving/basics/info-2023/ways-to-celebrate-national-caregivers-day.htm
Respite Care & Day Retreat Program!
Before COVID, many Assisted Living facilities offered Respite Care, The National Institute on Aging defines Respite Care as short-term relief for primary caregivers that typically is for a day or two or for a few weeks. Several local ALF’s have reinstated their Respite programs but I was very excited to hear about a new program being offered locally by Harbor Chase, an assisted living facility that has both a Respite Program and a unique program they call Day Retreat.
The Day Retreat is available Mon.-Fri, from 7am-7pm and can be from 1 hour to 12 hours a day. The cost is only $20 an hour, less than most home care. As far as I know this is a one-of-a-kind program in Gainesville. This is ideal for any caregiver who needs a few hours off for any reason! The Respite Program is for a minimum of 30 days and covers both assisted and memory care. The cost ranges from $225 to $265 a day depending on level of care and rooms available.
For more information contact Christina Ballard with Harbor Chase at 352-332-4505 or email her a cballard@hraonline.net Expect the typical admission forms and necessary assessment. Plan on visiting several times, doing tours, asking a lot of questions. Visit my website (see Resources) for a free list of questions to ask when touring any senior facility!
Star Bradbury
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