According to the Family Caregiver Alliance, in the United States, 16.6% of us are family caregivers (this term includes partners, friends, and neighbors who provide unpaid care to another) for an adult with an illness or disability. So about one in six of us currently fit this description, although not all recognize that fact right away. Sometimes the status comes loud and clear, perhaps with a new diagnosis of Alzheimer’s, or when a major stroke changes a loved one’s ability to live on their own. Other times the shift can be more imperceptible. Perhaps there is a slowly growing sense that you should monitor their wellbeing, such as by watching over diet, socialization, or health. Maybe it becomes necessary to check in more often or provide help with groceries, medication management, rides to appointments, or handling household tasks that they used to take care of on their own. Perhaps you are reading this wondering why it should matter if and when a person identifies with the words “family caregiver,” and to some degree the words don’t matter. A challenge comes with the fact that our dominant culture does not include teaching that caregiving for an older adult is likely to be our role at some point in life. Nor is the path to performing that role, while remaining well yourself, clear cut. For this reason, recognition, which is ideally accompanied by asking questions, asking for help, and access to information and support, is important.
If you or someone you know is a family caregiver, find out early how caregivers can thrive. For information on support in Boulder County, contact me or go to BoulderCountyhelp.org and take a look at our service directory. If you recognize yourself here, you are providing one of the most valuable services in the world, which comes with great rewards and great challenges … and you are not alone.
~ Juliette Jonjak Kershner is Caregiver Initiative Coordinator with Boulder County Area Agency on Aging, a Division of Community Services. For more information on BCAAA caregiver services, call 303-678-6116 or email InfoCaregiver@ bouldercounty.org .