Share the Caring As We Celebrate National Family Caregivers Month

National Family Caregivers Month is celebrated in November to recognize more than 50 million family caregivers across the country who provide services valued at $257 billion annually. Family caregivers form an invisible healthcare workforce and literally underpin our healthcare system by providing approximately 80% of all homecare services. Family caregivers sacrifice time and wages to care for loved ones, and over their lifetime can lose an average of $660,000 in combined Social Security benefits, pension benefits, and wages. National Family Caregivers Month, sponsored by the National Family Caregivers Association, is designed to focus on the many challenges facing family caregivers, draw support for stronger public policy to address family caregiving issues, and raise awareness about community programs that support family caregivers. The Transverse Myelitis Association encourages our members to celebrate National Family Caregivers Month 2004.

The ongoing theme for NFC Month is ‘share the caring,’ but each year NFCA focuses on different issues relevant to the family caregiving community. This year NFC Month will provide information and education about three timely and important issues including:

• How public policy affects a family caregiver’s day-to-day life
• Why a family caregiver’s good health is essential to their loved one’s wellbeing
• Things family caregivers can do to help keep their loved one safe

National Family Caregivers Association (NFCA), whose mission is to improve the overall quality of life of family caregivers, is a grass roots organization that educates, supports, empowers and speaks up for the millions of Americans caring for chronically ill, aged or disabled loved ones. NFCA is the only organization dedicated to family caregiving that reaches across the boundaries of different diagnoses, different relationships, and different life stages to address the common needs and concerns of all family caregivers. NFCA espouses a philosophy of self-advocacy and self-care that is predicated on the belief that caregivers who choose to take charge of their lives, and see caregiving as but one of its facets, are in a position to be happier and healthier individuals. They are then able to have a higher quality of life and to make a more positive contribution to the well being of their care recipient, all of which has a positive impact on society and health care costs. Through its services in the areas of education and information, support and validation, public awareness and advocacy, NFCA strives to minimize the disparity between a caregiver's quality of life and that of mainstream Americans.

To learn more about how you can become a member, support NFCA, or purchase educational and promotional NFC Month materials, please call NFCA at (800)896-3650 or visit www.thefamilycaregiver.org.