A Labor Day Proposal : Thank the Unsung Millions Who Provide Labor of Love, Our Caregivers

All Americans owe a debt of gratitude to those who work for a living. But what about our caregivers, who selflessly tend the disabled – helping them eat, bathe, go to the bathroom, dress? Our society could not function without caregivers, yet we give them short shrift when handing out thank-you’s. To rectify this, I propose a Labor Day token of thanks.

It doesn’t have to be fancy or costly, just some token to those who have helped you or someone in your family. Labor Day is the perfect time for it.

The token could be –

• A greeting card
• Flowers or a single rose
• An edible treat
• A framed picture of the person they’re helping
• A simple phone call, or
• In-person thanks with a hug.

The main thing is to let the caregiver know you care about them and truly appreciate all they do, delivered in a spirit of devotion.

Some caregivers are low-paid professionals such as nurses and home-care aides. Most, numbering in the millions, are unpaid relatives of those needing care, mostly female, who sacrifice careers and personal lives. Millions of men provide care services, too. Chances are most us will become caregivers at some time. And most of us will need caregiving of some form eventually. So let’s get in the habit of showing our appreciation for this great labor of love.