Appreciate, Honor, and Support Our Family Caregivers

November is a busy month, with Thanksgiving and other holidays approaching that many of us look forward to celebrating with our loved ones. It is also National Family Caregivers Month, an important time to reflect on the increasing number of people who need help for basic needs and are getting that help from unpaid family members. It’s an opportunity for us to consider what supports these caregivers need to keep them healthy in mind and body.

I have a friend who is caring for her 90-year-old mom while maintaining a support system for her adult daughter who experiences mental illness. Another friend is dealing with cancer as he provides ongoing care for his wife who has dementia. Some caregivers for older family members also have young children under the age of 18. These members of the “sandwich generation” face additional challenges and pressures.

According to a 2023 Guardian Life workplace study, there are 53 million adults in the U.S. who care for a spouse, elderly parent or relative, or special-needs child, up from 43.5 million in 2015. Many caregivers also work full-time jobs while others — particularly women, who are more likely to be caregivers — have given up paid employment to provide care.

Even if you are not personally among these legions of family caregivers, virtually all of us have a friend or acquaintance who is. Those who provide this care for their loved ones do so with intense dedication, but they frequently pay a price physically and economically, while also facing mental health consequences.

What are some of the ways we can support family caregivers in our communities? We can provide meals and groceries or offer respite care so they have time to connect with others in support groups or simply have fun with friends. But one of the best ways you can support family caregivers is to make sure they know what resources are available to them.

Community Living Connections — a program supported by Aging and Disability Services, the Area Agency on Aging for Seattle and King County — offers free consultations with specialists who can tailor support services to meet the unique needs of unpaid caregivers. Those services may include:

• Referrals to local support groups, counseling, and other resources
• Training on specific caregiving topics
• Advice on use of supplies and equipment
• Practical information and caregiving suggestions
• Respite care, if they just need a break

Contact Community Living Connections toll free at 1-844-348-5464 or via this web form to arrange a consultation. Questions will be answered at no cost. Some services, like respite care, are available for a sliding-scale fee while others are free of charge with a service limit.

If you are a family caregiver, thank you so much for all you do. If you know a family caregiver, please make sure you thank them this month and keep them on your radar all year long. They are a critical part of our care support system as we all age and they need to be appreciated, honored, and supported.

Contributor Alex O’Reilly chairs the Seattle-King County Advisory Council on Aging & Disability Services. She welcomes input from readers via e-mail (advisorychair@agewisekingcounty.org).

Mark Your Calendars

Following are upcoming events of interest to ADS Advisory Council members:

• 2024 Legacy of Love African American Caregivers Forum: Saturday, November 2 (10 a.m.–3 p.m.) at the Northwest African American Museum (2300 S Massachusetts St, Seattle). First presented in November 2017 as part of National Family Caregivers Month, this unique, culturally focused event draws family caregivers from throughout the Pacific Northwest. For more information, contact Eldad Mekuria at Eldad.Mekuria@seattle.gov.
• ADS Advisory Council: Friday, November 8 (noon–2 p.m.); online. To receive the meeting link, e-mail aginginfo@seattle.gov in advance.
• Veterans Day: Monday, November 11. Both ADS offices will be closed this day.
• Mayor’s Council on African American Elders: Friday, November 15 (2–3:30 p.m.) at Grace United Methodist Church (722 30th Ave. S., Seattle, 98144). Parking is available. Agendas will be sent via e-mail. Meetings are hybrid. Contact Eldad.Mekuria@seattle.gov for the Zoom link or more information.
• Age Friendly Seattle Civic Coffee: Transportation & Entertainment: Thursday, November 21 (11:30 a.m.–12:30 p.m.) at Neighborhood House High Point Center (6400 Sylvan Way SW, Seattle, 98126). This month’s event focuses on transportation and entertainment. Unable to attend in person? You have an option to join online.
• Thanksgiving: Thursday, November 28. Both ADS offices will be closed on Thursday and Friday, Nov. 28-29.