Society of Certified Senior Advisors: Celebrating the Caregivers in Your Life During National Family Caregivers Month

Caregiving is both rewarding and difficult. Each November, the country honors and gives thanks to our family caregivers.

Today, about 53 million Americans provide unpaid care for family members or friends. The economic impact of that care totals $470 billion.

Caregivers face challenges including financial and emotional strain. Financially, many caregivers are supporting their loved ones by buying daily necessities. At the same time, they’re often forgoing wages either by having to reduce their work hours or quit work entirely in order to provide care. Emotionally, caregiving can feel isolating without a strong support network. And watching a loved one deteriorate is heartbreaking. Caregiving can also take a physical toll, especially when the person receiving care needs wheelchair or lift support.

November was designated National Family Caregivers Month in 1997 by President Bill Clinton. Since then, the nonprofit Caregiver Action Network has decided on each year’s theme (this year: #ICare) and coordinated outreach for the month. CAN’s mission is “to promote resourcefulness and respect for tens of millions of family caregivers across the country.” In addition to CAN, The Association for Community Living (ACL), National Council on Aging (NCOA), the National Alliance for Caregiving and other organizations collaborate to raise awareness about caregiving each November. (Note: While many organizations use the word “caregiver,” some are transitioning to the term “care partner” in order to emphasize the mutual nature of these relationships.)

This November, if you yourself are a caregiver, consider ways to celebrate the immense contribution you make every day to your loved ones and your country. Here are a few ideas adapted from The Senior List:

When possible, accept help when it’s offered.
Care for yourself by resting; know that you’re staying strong for the person you love.
Consider how to make the holidays easier on yourself, even if it means shifting some traditions.

If you know a caregiver, here are some ways to celebrate and thank these special people.

Ways to Celebrate & Thank Caregivers

Give a gift. If you have the means, consider reaching out to thank a caregiver you know with a gift. Gift cards to reasonably-priced restaurants, gas gift cards, and cash are welcome gifts for those experiencing financial strain from caregiving, particularly around the holidays.
Spend time together. Caregiving can be isolating. Visits and calls mean a lot.
Share what caregiving means to you. Care partners can often feel that the work they do is invisible. Bring the work of caregiving to light on your social media by sharing your own story and celebrate caregivers you know. NCOA offers templates and hashtags to maximize your message.
Learn about efforts to uplift and empower caregivers. Did you know that there’s a National Strategy to Support Family Caregivers? Since 2022, federal, state, and local agencies have collaborated under this strategy to engage with family caregivers and understand their needs. The strategy also promotes financial incentives for caregiving, education and professional development for caregivers.

Another way to thank the caregivers in your life is by knowing where to turn when they can use support. Here are several direct lines where caregivers can connect to the support they need.

Resources for Caregivers

Caregiver Action Network’s Caregiver Help Desk. “You care, we help” is the message from CAN’s Help Desk, available via online chat at their website and by phone at 855-227-3640.
Mental Health America has a robust library of resources for caregivers on its website, including categories like “Crisis Planning for Caregivers” and “Coping with Caregiving Stress.” MHA also offers a free mental health screening and links to a Warmline directory.
The National Alliance for Caregiving supports an online resource directory called Take Care. Organizations across the country submit their own resources for caregivers, and you can sign up for email updates.
CAN offers a list of many other organizations that support, advocate for, and educate the public on behalf of caregivers.

By caring for the older adults and people with disabilities in their lives, caregivers support everyone. According to NCOA, “The work done by family caregivers has long been the safety net of the American long-term care system.” Underappreciated and absolutely essential, caregivers deserve all the love this November.