Caregiving is a team effort
By Najja R. Orr, DBA, FCPP, PCA President & CEO
The number of Americans providing unpaid care for a loved one has increased by 21% over the past five years, according to the National Alliance for Caregiving. The economic value of unpaid, family caregiving in America is $600 billion a year, according to the journal “Innovation in Aging.” And, with the population of Americans aged 65-plus increasing and with people living longer, the need for caregivers will continue to increase across the country.
While the nation’s 53 million caregivers provide an invaluable resource to their loved ones that supplements the health care system, caregivers themselves also need care. Many benefit from information and resources to help manage the challenges of caregiving, as well as a helping hand. That’s where PCA’s Caregiver Support Program can assist.
The role of a caregiver is rewarding, and yet it is also extremely challenging. In many cases, caregivers are on call 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. This leaves little or no time for caregivers to take the best care of themselves, as well as to pursue personal interests, exercise, religious services, work or school. Even some of the most seasoned caregivers can experience stress that may take a toll on their own physical and mental well-being.
The reality is that caregiving takes a village because it is not a one-person job. While there may be a primary caregiver who provides daily hands-on care to an older loved one, there must also be a person (or, preferably, several people) who are taking care of the caregiver’s needs as well.
If you have a friend or family member who is a full-time caregiver, you can make their job easier by offering to take over caregiving duties to allow the caregiver “respite” to attend to their own physical, social or spiritual needs. Here are some other ways that you can help a caregiver:
- Pick up needed medication or health care supplies.
- Shop for food or send cooked meals.
- Run errands.
- Call to check in (on the caregiver) or just talk/provide socialization.
- Inform them that cash assistance and other help is available from PCA’s Caregiver Support Program.
Help for caregivers
Help is available to Philadelphia’s unpaid, primary caregivers through a wide array of resources, including education and training, financial assistance, caregiving support groups, and respite care services. PCA’s Caregiver Support Program provides caregivers of older adults and of adults with disabilities with emotional support, reimbursement for caregiving services and supplies, training, and benefits counseling. The program also supports adults 60 and older who are raising young relatives under the age of 18 and adults 55 or older who are caring for a person with a disability. For more information, call the PCA Helpline at 215-765-9040, go to pcaCares.org/caregivers or Click Here>>
