Neighbor News
Caregiving During the Holidays: Help is Available
There are services available to those caring for a loved one during the busy holiday season.
The holidays can be a stressful time for anyone. The shopping, cooking, baking, wrapping, parties and other commitments can make this time of year far less enjoyable. Add to that the stress of caring for an ailing or elderly loved on, and the stress nearly triples.
Are you the individual who’s responsible for the care of your parents or older loved ones? Then you’re a caregiver, one of 42 million in the United States alone.
According to AARP’s research, the 42.1 million caregivers in the US provide an estimated $450 billion worth of unpaid care to aging relatives and friends. Many think that family caregivers are paid health professionals, providing full-time care to someone in need of daily help, when in reality most caregivers are also working and managing their own families at the same time. This juggling of responsibilities can be highly stressful, putting caregivers at risk for depression, anxiety, immunosuppression, cardiovascular disease, and premature aging among other physiological consequences, as well as causing financial problems.
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The AARP and the Ad Council have launched a series of PSAs which highlight new data concerning the many added stressors that many caregivers face during the holiday season.
“I have been the primary caregiver for both my parents for many years, “said Amy Goyer, AARP’s Family and Caregiving expert. “I could not have done it without the support from my adoptive family at AARP. The resources and information they have provided me have not only allowed me to help my own family, but empowered me to reach out to the thousands of caregivers who are working alone. These new PSAs are a poignant reminder of the way that roles change, and how AARP is here to help.”
Find out what's happening in South San Franciscofor free with the latest updates from Patch.
If you or someone you know is a caregiver for a family member or loved one, please let them know that help is available especially during the busy holiday season. Please visit aarp.org/caregiving and aarp.org/cuidar for tools and resources and to connect with experts and other caregivers in a supportive community.
