YOU Are a Caregiver

YOU are a Caregiver

"There are only four kinds of people in this world:
Those who have been caregivers;
Those who currently are caregivers;
Those who will be caregivers; and
Those who will need caregivers.”
~ Rosalynn Carter
Rosalynn Carter Institute for Caregiving

At some point in your life you will either NEED a caregiver, or you will BE a caregiver…  Will you know what to do?  Will you know where to begin?  Well, you have come to the right place.

The first step is to recognize – and admit – that you are a caregiver.

What is a Caregiver?

A caregiver is anyone who gives care to someone else.  If you are a family member, a spouse, a friend, a neighbor, an adult child, or have any other relationship with someone that you care about and help do things for, you are a caregiver.  The type of help or care could be anything from mowing the grass, driving someone to a doctor’s appointment, picking up groceries, paying bills, cleaning the house, having prescriptions filled, helping with dressing, bathing or eating, or just checking in to make sure they are ‘okay.’

Most caregivers don’t think of themselves this way.  Caregivers just think that:

           “I’m just doing what I am supposed to do.”

            “That’s what families and friends are for.”

Sometimes you will see the terms "family caregiver", "informal caregiver" or "consumer" used to describe this very important role.  "Informal caregiver" or "informal caregiving" often refers to care that is given without pay, in contrast to a “professional” caregiver who is paid for their work.  "Consumer" is a term that is used for people who “consume” or use long-term care services and supports.  Caregivers need to learn to recognize and answer to all of these names and descriptions.

When do You Become a Caregiver?

Many times you become a caregiver gradually, over a long period of time.  As our loved ones age, you start out doing a few things here or there.  As the person’s age progresses and health, medical issue, or cognitive decline creeps in, you begin doing more and more to help them.

Sometimes you become a caregiver at a time of crisis.  How many of you have ever gotten “THE PHONE CALL” that transformed you into a caregiver in an instant?  Maybe someone had a stroke, or was diagnosed with cancer, or broke a hip.  If one parent dies and the other parent is not able to care for himself/herself, you might become a caregiver when the death occurs and you “inherit” your remaining parent.

• About 44 million Americans provide 37 billion hours of unpaid, “informal” care each year for adult family members and friends with chronic illnesses or conditions.
• In Georgia, there are 1,310,000 million caregivers.
• Most older persons with long-term care needs – 65% - rely exclusively on family and friends to provide assistance.
• 80% of the long-term care in this country is provided by family members.

I AM A CAREGIVER !!!

Regardless of who you are caring for or when you started being a caregiver, it is VITAL that you learn to gracefully accept this title and wear it as a badge of honor.  To admit that you are caring for another person is nothing to be ashamed of!  Recognize that you are not alone and that the feelings, frustrations and concerns that you have are shared with many people.

There is a great deal of research and studies that prove that identifying yourself as a caregiver is a very important first step in being able to find the necessary help that you need to help the person you are caring for, and yourself.  The sooner that you identify yourself as a caregiver, the better able you will be to find and identify information, resources and support to help you provide the best care ~ and caring ~ that you can.

Take a deep breath, and say it outloud:

I AM A CAREGIVER !!!

Now you can get started.  You have come to the right place to connect you to the resources that you need in Georgia!