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.

1. 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.

To read the rest of November Is Caregiver Awareness Month, visit the Key Ministry’s blog for parents of kids with special needs and disabilities.

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Photo by Luis Quintero on Unsplash