November is Caregiver Awareness Month
November is Caregiver Awareness Month. As someone who became one of my dad’s caregivers before I started school, I grew up thinking everyone in the world was aware of caregivers and caregiving. As young adults, my husband and I cared for a son born with a life-threatening medical condition—and his typical sibling. As members of the sandwich generation, my brother, sister, and I cared for our mother for 15 years after she was diagnosed with dementia.
This explains why, when I first heard that November is Caregiver Awareness Month, I was incredulous, and I still am.
How can the general public be unaware of family caregivers? I think most people are aware that family caregivers exist. That said, I do believe that most people aren’t aware of what family caregiving is like.
They aren’t aware of the sacrifices made by members of a caregiving family.
They aren’t aware of the commitment family caregivers make.
They aren’t aware of the isolation family caregivers experience.
They aren’t aware of the joy caregivers find in actively living out their love for family.
They aren’t aware that caregiving is a holy calling.
They aren’t aware of how to support and encourage caregivers.
I could write an entire post about each item on that list, but for now I’d like to suggest 10 ways you support and encourage caregiving families you know and love.
- Be present. Mobility and toileting issues make it hard for caregiving families to come to your home, so visit them in theirs. Or in the hospital. Or at their residential facility. If face-to-face options don’t work, set up FaceTime, Zoom, or phone calls. Or text. Or email. Do whatever you can to show caregivers you value them and want to connect with them.
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Photo by Luis Quintero on Unsplash
By Jolene
Jolene Philo is the author of several books for the caregiving community. She speaks at parenting and special needs conferences around the country. Sharing Love Abundantly with Special Needs Families: The 5 Love Languages® for Parents Raising Children with Disabilities, which she co-authored with Dr. Gary Chapman, was released in August of 2019 and is available at local bookstores, their bookstore website, and Amazon. See Jane Dig!, the fourth book in the West River cozy mystery series, which features characters affected by disability, was released in October of 2024.
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Kelley, you are welcome. You are wise to recognize your struggle with co-dependency and maintaining a joyful heart. Comment again if you have questions or concerns. Jolene
As a Christian caregiver of several family members, I’ve struggled with co-dependency as well. I’m trying to find that healthy balance of caring for my 28-year daughter with autism, my last living parent, and my own emotional, social, physical, spiritual well-being. I want to keep a joyful heart and learn to have appropriate boundaries with my family members so I can please the Lord. Thank you for the encouragement.