National Family Caregiver Month

 We all know a caregiver. Parents, grandparents, spouses, children, neighbors and friends are all caregivers for someone. At some point in our lives you may have been called into service to assist someone who needed additional help to get through a difficult time. The following definition makes it pretty clear that any of us, at any time, can be given the title.

care·giv·er  (kârgvr)

n.

1. An individual, such as a physician, nurse, or social worker, who assists in the identification, prevention, or treatment of an illness or disability.

2. An individual, such as a parent, foster parent, or head of a household, who attends to the needs of a child or dependent adult.

For the approximately 1,600,000 individuals expected to be diagnosed with cancer in 2011, there are immediately that many caregivers - in some cases, more, as families and friends divvy up the needs of the patient. Caregiving for a loved-one who is suffering from illness is often a job that is taken on out of necessity. The caregiver not only takes on many of the same stresses that the patient is enduring, but they also have separate responsibilities of their own that must be managed simultaneously. For many, the stress of caregiving can be overwhelming.

Although the cancer patient is the main focus of most oncologists and their staff, it is becoming more and more common to see materials and listings for support groups specifically designed with caregivers in mind available in clinics. With the needs of caregivers in mind, the National Family Caregivers Association began promoting the celebration of family caregivers during the week of Thanksgiving in 1994. As interest grew in family caregiving issues, the annual week of awareness turned into a month-long celebration. That first week of recognition in 1994 was declared by then-President Bill Clinton, and every President since has reinforced the importance of this kind of support and recognition for family caregivers.

This month, to coincide with National Family Caregiver Month, Hope Cancer Resources is hosting a mini-symposium especially for cancer caregivers. Emphasis will be placed on the special challenges associated with the upcoming holiday season. If you are currently acting as a caregiver for a cancer patient, we hope you will consider joining us for this informative program. Please find us on Facebook and RSVP to the event, and feel free to share it with others who may be needing this kind of support.