Did you know that November is National Family Caregiver Month? Whether it be due to financial strain or simply the desire to care for our loved ones, more and more people are bringing their aging parents and grandparents into their homes to provide the care they need. There are as many as 90 million family caregivers in the United States today!
In my family, we don't age graciously. We're a rowdy bunch, and we seem to make it into our 70's without incident...and then things go downhill. You see, Alzheimer's runs in my family. When I say that it runs in the family, I mean that every single woman on my father's side of the family suffered from it towards the end of their lives.
It's a scary illness, and it's heartbreaking to watch happen to the people that you love...but it's even more heartbreaking when you watch their sons and daughters try to act as their caregivers.
My first experience with Alzheimer's was when my maternal great-grandmother began showing signs of dementia. I was a young teenager, not even in the prime of my life yet, and I watched as she went from becoming easily confused but still able to live on her own in her own apartment, to moving in with my grandparents, to having to live in a nursing home.
I watched as my grandmother and grandfather tried to care for her and eventually had to place her in a nursing home, as my grandfather was disabled himself, and my grandmother wasn't able to watch my grandmother 24 hours a day. It was just too much!
When my grandfather's two sisters, Leona and Irene, began developing Alzheimer's, it was equally hard to accept.
Caring for an aging loved one is not easy, and it can sometimes be a thankless job. Unlike nursing home employees, family caregivers do not get a break, or a day off - they even have to be on guard during the night!
In honor of National Family Caregiver Month, ThanksProject.org has created a way for us to say THANK YOU.
It's as easy as typing out a simple message of thanks to someone who has devoted themselves to being the caregiver to a family member. Why don't you visit the ThanksProject.org website and give a little thanks?
In honor of National Family Caregiver Month, I am hosting a great giveaway - this would make an excellent gift to a family caregiver in your life! A gift of relaxation? What better way to say "Thanks?"
Adrienne Gordon
I never have been
kymi a
Since 20yrs old, I took care of my hubby's grandma & grandpa who had parkinson's and alheizmer. They passed away & several years later my father in law had lung cancer & passed away a few years ago,I'm in my 40's now & currently we take care of my hubby's mom (big mama lol)she's a fiesty one, love her dearly, but sometimes I just need a break! lol I am not a nurse, just a person who could help them in their time of need. Our state bought nurses over to teach us how to give shot, bathe & taught us how to give home care. This would be a well needed prize. Good Luck to all!
laura
My grandmother was a caretaker for several years to an ailing family member. She demonstrated selflessness, love, and devotion, and I really admire her.
Amber Huskey
I am a caregiver (CNA) every day. I have worked in a nursing home for 4 years and I love my residents they are just like family. Holidays are mainly spent with them being that most of them don't have family that come visit them often and over time is always offered so I get a lot of time helping them up in the morning and doing activities with them and assisting them to bed.
Margaret Smith
Yes, first for my mom for a number of years and right now for my husbands 94 year old Aunt.
Elena
I have never been a caregiver
Natalie
I used to be a caregiver for an assisted living facility.
alicia k (Petite Pilates Pixie)
i've never been one but my mom has
Shannon Baas
I have been in an assisted living facility.
Stacy O'Connor
I have not done this.
Colleen Boudreau
No I haven't.
Erika Messer
I have been a caregiver - when my grandmother died in 2001 my ex-husband and I moved in with my grandpa to take care of him. He was mostly independent but needed someone with him because he had strokes and 1 1/2 years later he passed as well 🙁 It is an extremely hard thing to do, I was only 25 when I did this and not many people that age deal with something like that.
DARLA KIDDER
I care for my youngest son who is disabled with Cerebral Palsy , A.D.H.D. and a mild form of Autism.
June Ebinger
MY MOM WAS A CAREGIVER
Tom Bellamy
We are caregivers to my mother-in-law.
Dana
right now with my grandma
Mary Casper
No I have never been a family caregiver though my mom has for her mother
Rachel Travis
I work with therapeutic foster care as a care giver 🙂
Jenn
My Aunt is a part-time caregiver to a woman with Alzheimer's.
Spring Ross
I am a caregiver of a diabetic daughter. I have also been a caregiver for our great grandparents.
richelle bowers
im not a caregiver but my aunt is
Amanda Sakovitz
My mom is a caregiver
Thomas Murphy
My mom is a caregiver for her sister.
steve weber
Yes I was a caregiver for almost 2 years.
Kristin
My mom was a caregiver for my dad and her mother.
rebeka deleon
i have never been and no one in my family has either.
Danielle Porter
My aunt is a caregiver for my grandma.
Soha Molina
No on both counts.
Noelle Cagle
my hubby is a nurse and I had to care for him for over a year while he was recuperating from a serious illness.
Rebecca Graham
I have never been a care giver but that day will be coming someday.
DESIREE H
I have never been a care giver. My mother is a caregiver to her mother. She does EVERYTHING for her! I would be giving this GC to my mother!
Thank you
candice
I have never been a caregiver. I know how dedicated they are though!
Anna E.
I have been a caregiver of my grandfather after we lost my grandmother. Its not a easy job. But would do it all again.
Jai B.
I have never been a caregiver, but I appreciate anyone who is a caregiver.
Victoria Carlson
I have never been a family caregiver but as my grandpa was going through his last stages of his life as he battled Alztimers and dementia, I realized and appreciated so much more family caregivers. My grandma worked so hard caring for my grandpa during his life and I am so grateful for family carefivers and the hard work they put into it.
Tabathia B
Right now my mother is being a caregiver, but I have never been one
Katie Roch
I have never been a caregiver.
melina r
I have not been a caregiver nor any family member.
Carly
My grandparents were for my great grandmother.
Tamar
My mother in law is. I don't think I could do it.
Luna S
Myself, My mother & My grandmother have all worked in the field.
Tammy S
My sister and I share caring for my mom. She lives with my sister but I am the one that takes her to all her doctor appointments.
ShootingStarsMag
My family have taken people in before, and we currently live with my grandpa.
Jennifer Speed
My auntie Jackie is a caregiver for my grandma who is in the early stages of Dementia
wendy rozema
I never have been and so far I don't know of anyone who is.
Amanda C
I was a caregiver for a family member.
Crystal Sweet
My mom was a caregiver. Thank you to all of the caregivers out there!
Tara
My mother has taken care of my grandmother for years since she was diagnosed with Alzheimer's.
Elizabeth Owens
We used to have a care giver for my grandmother.. Bless that woman's heart for always being so kind and cating
Dawn Ganey
Yes, i took care of my granny for 2 1/2 years before she died.
Tina Demarco
no i am not and no one in my family is either.
Dawn
My parents are caring for my grandmother now. I have not been a caregiver. My in-laws cared for his father after a stroke and his mother for alzheimers.
Dee
My father recently had hip surgery at the end of Oct and my sisters and I have been his caregiver for the last month and will be for the next 3 to 4 months until he heals completely.
deb
Ive been a caregiver
jessica edwards
I have been
Jennifer Morris
I have been a caregiver
Jessica Snow
I was a caregiver to my mother for two years when she was going through Pancreatic Cancer. She is now five years in remission.
Thanks for the giveaway! =)
Kristen
Yes I am a caregiver.
Daniel M
I help my older parents all the time but they're still pretty mobile, so wouldn't really call me a caregiver
Stephanie Larison
I've been the caregiver of my mother for the last year.
joseph gersch
i am a professional caregiver
Danielle Wood
Never been a professional caregiver but have given care to my family when they were injured or had surgery
Tammie Venne
I care for my 2 young children but no other family members
Heather B
My mother is an LPN on an alzheimers unit. I would love to give this to her!
Pauline M
My mother is in her 70's and though she is still very independent, I tend to spend a lot more time with her now, just to be sure everything is OK. I expect that she will come live with me in the future
Donna M Clark
I am a caregiver to my sister.
Robin
I have never been a caregiver
Stephen
That answer would be no!
Rosanne
Yes especially this year my mother had a heart attack pacemaker became insulin dependent and went in to a nursing home. I am caring for her, her finances her house yard my mentally ill brother etc.
Karrie Millheim
My aunt has been the caregiver. I helped out a bit but she is the one that has taken care of both of my grandparents. Her love is so giving and she is devoted. I have never met anyone in my life like her and she is an inspiration on what I plan to be for her one day
Kellie Conklin
Yes, my mom was a caregiver for my grandma when she was in her end stages of cancer and I tried to help with what I could as well. Definitely a difficult job.
Karen T Gonyea
I have been a caregiver before.
liz
My mom was my grandmothers for years
tina d reynolds
I have been a caregiver
Anissa
My father cares for my mother who has Parkinsons.
Rajee P Pandi
I have done to my grandmother
Doramary
Sweet!
RICHARD HICKS
I was a caregiver for the last years of my Gramps life
Kari
I was a caregiver to my dad for a very short time. He was diagnosed with cancer and passed away after only about eight months. At the end, I helped take care of him, giving his medicine and turning him in bed, etc.
Carly D.
I used to care for a woman with a disability, a lot of work but worth it!