October 25, 2016
November is Family Caregiver Month
By Peggy Dykes
Community Relations Director
Milestone’ Area Agency on Aging
A woman with a weary look and disheveled hair is typical of the many “sandwich generation” caregivers who come into our office for information and assistance. She is determined to care for her 87-year-old mother with mild dementia and her disabled husband with chronic back pain, all the while feeling overwhelmed and pulled in too many directions. She needed what most caregivers need— understanding and support, information about medical conditions and social services, strategies for pacing herself and balancing her duties, and praise for making a positive difference in the well-being of her family.
As we approach November, the National Family Caregiver Month, it is worth noting that the family caregivers are finding more support, services and even praise than ever before. Twenty-five years ago, the term “family caregiver” had not yet been established in daily conversation and there were relatively few community-based caregiver supports. Today, as our community ages and more of us are caring for elderly relatives and friends, family caregiving is well-recognized. Family caregivers are accessing local assistance, such as support groups, home health aides and adult day care programs.
However, no stressed wife, son or daughter will benefit from any of the many services available if they don’t first identify themselves as a family caregiver or realize that they don’t have to shoulder the entire burden themselves. We are lucky to live in the Quad Cities and have supports for
caregivers like the upcoming Family Caregiver Conference to be held on Saturday, March 4, 2017 from 8 to noon at the Waterfront Convention Center, 2021 State Street in Bettendorf. It will feature two keynote speakers and over 60 Iowa/Illinois organizations and providers who can help
families and friends through the maze of caregiver issues.
Milestones Area Agency on Aging supports family caregivers and offers assistance through the Iowa Family Caregiver Program at (563) 324-9085. In Illinois, call Alternatives at (309) 277-0167.
Peggy Dykes is Community Relations Director at Milestones Area Agency on Aging. She can be reached at (563) 324-9085, ext. 212 or at pdykes@milestonesaaa.org.
