National Family Caregivers Month

November is National Family Caregivers Month, and People for Quality Care would like to thank everyone that takes on this role to care for their loved ones. These 40 million individuals play a major role in improving the quality of life of those that they care for, and it is because of their dedication and selflessness that aging parents, ill spouses or other loved ones with disabilities who remain at home can live their lives more comfortably.  

Because being a caregiver can come with challenges, the Caregiver Action Network has provided 10 tips to improve their well-being, including:

1. Seek support from other caregivers. You are not alone!
2. Take care of your own health so that you can be strong enough to take care of your loved one.
3. Accept offers of help and suggest specific things people can do to help you.
4. Learn how to communicate effectively with doctors.
5. Caregiving is hard work so take respite breaks often.
6. Watch out for signs of depression and don't delay getting professional help when you need it.
7. Be open to new technologies that can help you care for your loved one.
8. Organize medical information so it's up to date and easy to find.
9. Make sure legal documents are in order.
10. Give yourself credit for doing the best you can in one of the toughest jobs there is!

You can view the list of tips here.

Family caregivers are also supportive advocates for their loved ones, especially if they experience issues accessing home medical equipment, supplies and services that their loved ones depend on. To show our appreciation for these caregivers and advocates, we can make our voices heard and demand that legislation be passed to protect beneficiaries’ access to the equipment and services that are critical to their well-being. Take action today by visiting https://people-for-quality-care.rallycongress.net/.