November is National Family Caregivers Month, and for good reason. Every day, more than 66 million Americans provide care for loved ones like parents and spouses who require hands-on assistance due to a physical or mental disability. Caregivers often set aside their own personal and professional lives to meet the needs of others. Since this year’s theme is “Caregiving Around the Clock,” we’d like to highlight the care, time, and energy caregivers give.
home upkeep, and much more.
As the Baby Boomers age, many will need help. Caregivers can get support and resources from health insurance providers.
For example, caregivers have access to free nurse help-lines, comprehensive educational programs, DVDs, caregiving overviews, and incentives for preventative care services. In addition, caregivers can connect with resources closer to home that may help.
At AHIP, we recognize the burden of being a family caregiver. Caregivers are at greater risk for physical and emotional problems, particularly depression. Our industry is committed to helping caregivers get the information and support they need.
On Capitol Hill, we’re making members of Congress aware of the issues family caregivers face. We are championing the mission of the bipartisan Assisting Caregivers Today (ACT) Caucus. The ACT Caucus aims to craft commonsense policy that helps millions of caregivers who provide compassion and unpaid care.
In September, the Senate passed the Recognize, Assist, Include, Support and Engage (RAISE) Family Caregivers Act to create a national strategy to help family caregivers. Following this important first step, we call on the House of Representatives to pass this bill and address caregivers’ health and wellness. There is no better time than now to help millions of caregivers across the country.