Families with a loved one who has a disability face many challenges. For many families, care-giving can be a 24-hour-a-day, seven-day-a-week commitment that can wind up being overwhelming. To raise awareness for the unsung work involved in caring for individuals with disabilities, November is being observed as National Family Caregivers Month.

The Caregiver Action Network offers the following information on how round-the-clock care-giving can impact families:

Morning: The average family caregiver is a working mother of school-aged
children. Mornings can be a balancing act of getting  kids ready for school,
making sure a loved one has what they need for the day before getting themselves out the
door for work.

Throughout the day: Up to 70 percent of the time, the family caregiver – not the
patient –manages the medications. The more serious the condition, the more likely it is
the family caregiver manages medications. This means ensuring your loved
one is taking their medication correctly and maintaining an up-to-date medication list.

During a workday: Six out of 10 family caregivers work full- or part-time in addition to juggling their care-giving responsibilities at home. Most care-givers say they have to cut back on working hours, take a leave of absence, or quit their job entirely.

Evening: Ensuring caregivers get proper nutrition will help maintain strength, energy, stamina, and a positive attitude. Nutrition is as important for the caregiver as it for the loved one needing care.

Late at night: Late at night might be the only time care-givers get a few minutes to themselves. The chance to take a breather and re-energize is vital to be as good a caregiver tomorrow as today.

The middle of the night: Loved ones sometimes need emergency care in the middle of the night Be prepared ahead of time with vital information.

For information on how Carey Services might be able to help, call (765) 668-8961. You also can visit the Caregiver Action Network by clicking here.