Caregivers really Care

America is a great country that offers hope and promise to all of its citizens. Many families have become caregivers for older or sick members of their family. It is easy for the caregivers to forget about their own health and well being when taking care of family members. Many caregivers feel as if they owe a debt to the one that they care for.


Caring for  parents, grand-parents, spouses or other family member can be both good and bad. While an honor and a privilege to give back to those that loved us it can also be a very stressful and heartbreaking experience. Baby boomers are getting older and will soon be needing care takers of their own. Boomers have given back by taking care of older family members and now need care for their selves. The difference is that just like all their lives there are more individuals living during this period of time.

November is National Family Caregivers Month More Americans are caring for loved ones with chronic conditions, disabilities or health problems as they age. The number of caregivers in America taking care of family members has increased to 90 million. The number continues to rise to include more than 30% caregivers being family. One reason the number continues up is because Alzheimer continues to grow with more than 15 million family caregivers caring for more than 5 million loved ones with Alzheimer's disease. However age does not always play a role in needing a care giver

Parents caring for children with special needs continues to increase as well. The rise in childhood disease and illness continues to rise as well. Veterans returning to civilian life also require family to provide for those coming back wounded. Issues such as traumatic brain injury, post traumatic stress disorder or other wounds and illnesses affect many returning from Iraq and Afghanistan wars. Currently family care giving takes many different stands.

Complex medical and nursing tasks needed to take care of loved ones are performed by family. Medication, wound care, and special equipment are all items that no one can predict they will ever need to know. When the time comes and the need is present family steps up and does what is needed. This care is often unpaid care provided simply for the cause of love and respect. As the number of family caregivers grows each year the role of family caregivers becomes even more important