How to Celebrate National Caregiving Month this November
November is National Caregiving Month, an important time to recognize and support the millions of family caregivers who provide essential care every day. Caregiving is a demanding role that can feel isolating, stressful, and emotionally overwhelming, and it’s often done without pay or formal support. In this post, we’ll dive into why family caregivers are so vital, the emotional and mental health impacts of caregiving, and ways you can offer meaningful support to someone in a caregiver role.
Why Being a Family Caregiver is Important – and Often Overlooked
Caregiving is often overlooked because it’s not considered a “real job” but rather an unpaid duty or obligation to a family member. It’s known as “invisible labor” with hidden costs, like emotional and physical burnout. Family caregivers often push their own needs aside – including career progression, financial compensation, and personal needs – often leading to burnout or even illnesses of their own.
Caregiving requires medical, emotional, financial, and daily support. According to the AARP, there are 63 million Americans who work as unpaid family caregivers, which has increased roughly 50% since 2015 (AARP.org). This means that roughly 25% of adult Americans are caregivers, and 94% of that percentage care for adults.
More than 40% of caregivers provide high-intensity care, which includes administering injections or managing equipment. However, only 22% receive proper training for this type of care, which means most are winging it.
Moreover, seven in ten family caregivers are employed, but 18 million are hourly wage workers. When unexpected disruptions happen, hourly wages can be significantly impacted. There are about 11 million caregivers who receive some sort of financial compensation from Medicaid, Veterans Affairs, or state offices, but it’s not enough.
While these responsibilities are often taken on with love, the emotional and mental health costs can be far heavier than many people realize.
Understanding the Emotional and Mental Health Impacts of Being a Caregiver
Many caregivers experience chronic stress from constantly being “on,” managing medical decisions, and juggling their caregiving role with work and personal responsibilities. It’s common to experience feelings of guilt, anxiety, helplessness, or even resentment.
Additionally, caregivers are also at high risk for burnout, compassion fatigue, sleep disruption, and depression. When your days revolve around another person’s needs, it’s easy to lose sight of your own. And because caregiving is often viewed as a duty rather than a role that deserves support, caregivers may feel guilty for asking for help or not know who to turn to when they need it.
Emotional isolation is another major challenge. Caregivers frequently report feeling alone in their experience, especially when friends or family don’t fully understand what they’re managing. This isolation can compound stress and make it even harder to reach out for support.
How to Support Caregivers
Supporting caregivers doesn’t have to be complicated! Here are five small ways to offer meaningful support during National Family Caregivers Month and beyond:
Offer help with errands
Simple tasks like grocery shopping, cooking a meal, helping with errands, or providing transportation can relieve enormous pressure. Even a few hours of respite can help a caregiver reset.Check in with them regularly
Ask how they’re doing, not just how the person they care for is doing. Listening without judgment can help caregivers feel seen.Encourage breaks and boundaries
Remind caregivers that taking time for themselves is necessary. Encourage them to carve out even brief moments for rest, hobbies, or connection.Help them find resources
Share information about caregiver support programs, workplace protections, community organizations, or mental health services. Many caregivers don’t realize these resources exist or don’t know how to access them.Encourage them to ask for help
Caregivers often don’t ask for help until they’re overwhelmed. Creating a supportive environment where asking for help is expected can help break that cycle.
How Mae Mental Wellness Can Help Caregivers
At Mae Mental Wellness, we understand that caregivers carry a unique emotional load: one that often goes unseen until it becomes overwhelming.
If you or someone you love is in a caregiving role, you don’t have to carry everything alone. Reaching out for help is not a sign of weakness. Rather, it’s a necessary step toward bettering your well-being for the long term.
To book an appointment at Mae Mental Wellness, you can fill out this form or call (561) 231-0233. Learn more about services we offer and which insurance we accept.
