November is National Family Caregivers Month

On October 30, 2009, President Obama proclaimed November to be National Family Caregivers Month. In his proclamation, President Obama highlighted two programs that should help family caregivers in their quest to balance their personal and professional lives with their care of family or friends; The National Family Caregiver Support Program and the Lifespan Respite Care Act. The National Family Caregivers Month was started by the National Family Caregivers Association to thank, support, and educate family caregivers. I believe that one of goals of all organizations trying to support and educate family caregivers is to help those who see themselves as the niece caring for her aunt with breast cancer or the son caring for his elderly parents identify themselves as caregivers. I believe this is critical because until people identify themselves as family caregivers instead of family members helping those they love most of the legislation and organizational support available will not be requested or sought out.

For Baby Boomers caregiving can be a never ending joy or challenge

If you are in your mid 50’s, if your parents are still living they might be anywhere from 70-80+. This means that your parents are coming upon the time when you either need to start preparing yourself and your parents for the time when they will need help and then eventually hard decisions are to be made or you are already in that position. Not only are all of your relatives getting older, but many are becoming ill or not as mobile and you are finding yourself helping out whenever you can. Then if you have children, they could be from their 20’s to their 40’s. They may have lost a job, they may become ill, or you may be helping with their children. As you look around, you wonder “why me?” of “I am so glad I am able to help” or “How can I keep this up mentally, financially?” or “Things happen for a reason.” You look down the road and you see more and more caregiving opportunities. It makes you feel good that you can help. But, you must always remember that you must stay healthy or those around you will have to begin the cycle. Take care of yourself and try and help those around you make good health choices so that the caregiving cycle starts later than sooner.

Tax credit for caregiving

Make sure that you talk to the person who prepares your taxes about the possibility of a dependent credit for caring for a relative. According to an Associated Press release, there is a possibility of claiming caregiving expenses if the person or person’s like elderly parents cannot care for themselves. It is worth a try. All of us that provide caregiving services use our own funds due to the inability of our care receiver to pay or our inability to continually ask for payment for groceries, bills paid, etc. That is why there needs to be more legislation to help family caregivers who provide time, money, and care that would cost the state or federal government much more.

Caregiver postage stamp petition

The Future of Aging Blog has done a great job of highlighting the push by the National Family Caregivers Association to get a caregiver stamp. I think this is a great idea. There needs to be more political discussion about the dilemmas and contributions to society by family caregivers. If you agree that this is a worthy cause, please click here to help push for a Caregiver Commemorative Stamp.

Low levels of physical exertion helps older caregivers from health problems associated with caregiving

A recent study reported by MedPage Today suggests that physical exertion will help in the mortality rate of older caregivers between ages 70-79. The study also found that white males were the least likely to be caregivers. I find this to be fairly predictable based on anecdotal evidence from observations of situations with friends, family, and other people. Males have a tendency to fall back into the shadows and not participate. The women step up and take on all the problems assuming that the men will never step up enabling the men to not help unless there appears to be some benefit. Have any of you ever experienced this phenomenon?