During Father’s Day and all the time lately, I am worried about my parents health. I woke up in the middle of the night last night worrying about my dad. Unfortunately, this was not the first time and it will not be the last. It’s an honor to care for the person who cared for you. Taking care of an older parent can mean anything from handling their bills, to helping them with meals, to driving them to appointments, and more. Juggling all of those roles can be tough, but Father’s Day reminds us why we do it.
Across the country 42 million people, primarily women, between the ages 40 – 60 are faced with the challenge of providing care to their older loved ones each and every day. They may not know it, but they are caregivers, and they play an extraordinary role in supporting those we love.
I am writing on behalf of the Ad Council’s Caregiver Assistance campaign with AARP. New research from AARP suggests that care giving can take a tremendous toll on a caregiver’s personal health and general well being. And yet, many caregivers do not self-identify as such and can be reluctant to ask for help. The campaign aims to connect caregivers to resources, tools and experts at aarp.org/caregiving.
This Father’s Day, we’re raising awareness about The Thanks Project, an online platform that enables caregivers to publically recognize the parents whom they care for. Each individual ‘thanks’ will be integrated into the interactive tapestry, representing the 42 million caregivers in the US. Caregivers everywhere deserve to be recognized for the important work that they do, and Father’s Day remind us why it’s worth it.
Here is some more information!
Prepare to Care (Caregiving Planning Guide for Families) http://www.aarp.org/content/dam/aarp/home-and-family/caregiving/2012-10/prepare-to-care-lores.pdf
12 Resources Every Caregiver Should Know About http://www.aarp.org/home-family/caregiving/info-08-2012/important-resources-for-caregivers.html
Are you a caregiver? Please share your story.
Thank you for sharing these resources!