Working Caregivers:

Caring for an aging parent who can no longer remain independent may be one of the most important roles you will undertake in your lifetime. Typically it is not an easy role, nor is it one for which most of us are prepared. Like most people, you may have questions about how to cope with your care receiver’s illnesses or disability. If you have a job and are juggling several responsibilities, or if your family member or friend needs a lot of assistance, you may need help with caregiving, too. Whether you are expecting to become a caregiver or have been thrust into the role overnight, it is useful to know where you can get information and help.

What is Family Caregiving?

Simply put, family caregiving is the act of assisting someone you care about, who is chronically ill or disabled and unable to care for him/herself. However, there is nothing simple about family caregiving at all.

Caregiving itself is a multi-dimensional puzzle. For some it means providing 24- hour care for someone who can't dress, feed, go to the bathroom, or think for himself or herself.                                                   

Family caregiving is the bedrock upon which this country's health care system depends. The services provided by family caregivers represent 80% of all home care services and are conservatively valued at $306 billion a year, more than twice the amount spent on paid home care and nursing home services combined.

For many family caregivers caregiving is an emotional rollercoaster because a diagnosed condition has not yet exhibited debilitating symptoms.