Top 10 Ways to Celebrate National Family Caregivers Month 2009

National Family Caregivers Association

Over 50 million Americans serve as family caregivers, and the estimated value of the "free" services provided by these family members caring for loved ones who are frail, chronically ill or disabled is conservatively estimated to be $375 billion annually.

President Obama has just proclaimed November 2009 as National Family Caregivers Month. The President says, "Every day, family caregivers assist loved ones with tasks ranging from personal care and homemaking, to transportation and financial assistance. As the foundation of America's long-term care system, these individuals give millions of Americans the peace of mind and security that only family can provide."

Sponsored each year by the National Family Caregivers Association (NFCA), National Family Caregivers Month focuses on the challenges facing family caregivers. Family caregivers provide a vast array of emotional, financial, nursing, social, homemaking and other services on a daily or on an intermittent basis. While some family caregivers provide 24/7 care for loved ones who require assistance for all daily living activities, others may provide care on a part-time basis. Family caregiving can extend for a few years or a lifetime.

There are many ways to celebrate family caregivers and to take action and communicate the important messages of NFC Month. The following are ideas and guides to help you create a successful National Family Caregivers Month in your community:

1. Offer a few hours of respite time to a family caregiver so they can spend time with friends, or simply relax.
   
   
2. Send a card of appreciation or a bouquet of flowers to brighten up a family caregiver's day.
   
   
3. Encourage local businesses to offer a free service for family caregivers through the month of November.
   
   
4. Participate in the National Family Caregivers Association's FREE national teleclass: Safe & Sound: How to Prevent Medication Mishaps. The free one-hour teleclass/webinar will be November 12 at 2:00 p.m. ET. See the National Family Caregivers website for more information. 
   
   
5. Help a family caregiver decorate their home for the holidays or offer to address envelopes for their holiday cards.
   
   
6. Offer comic relief! Purchase tickets to a local comedy club, give a family caregiver your favorite funny movie to view, or provide them an amusing audio book to listen to while doing their caregiving activities.
   
   
7. Find 12 different family photos and have a copy center create a monthly calendar that the family caregiver can use to keep track of appointments and events. 
   
   
8. Offer to prepare Thanksgiving dinner for a caregiving family in your community, so they can just relax and enjoy the holiday. 
   
   
9. A United States postage stamp honoring the more than 50 million family caregivers in America is officially "under consideration" by the U.S. Citizens' Stamp Advisory Committee for introduction as early as 2011. Sign the petition letter and ask others to sign.
   
   
10. Help a family caregiver find information and resources on the internet or to locate a local support group.