Be Grateful

November is National Caregiver Month

In all honesty, before 2020, I will confess that I was utterly unaware that caregivers had a dedicated month of recognition and appreciation. No doubt, we all have that special someone that we can confide and call upon in a moment of angst. Like a well-trained athlete, the one person that  will magically pivot and show up in a heartbeat to actively aid us on our journey. Most will agree, many of us couldn’t cope with daily activities without a trusted support person.

Contemplate for a moment…who shows up for you? Who pivots so naturally to get things done in your family or friend group? Who most often has the foresight to take action before the the need arises, to keep life running smoothly? You will often recognize family caregivers as the ones who consistently and quietly offer support.

I am with you in this. You can count on me.                                                                     How are you holding up?                                                                                                   

What do you need today?

Family carers are a valuable commodity within any family or community. The demand is real. One in three readers are currently providing care.  Across the globe, women provide 66% of care needs . The heavy lifting extended to others is not only physically demanding, but requires emotional stamina as well.

November is a month to extend gratitude to the hidden figures in our homes and communities. Family caregiving is such an invisible national treasure even though monetary recognition resides below the national living wage. Caregiver burden may potentially impact physical, mental well-being,  social connectivity and financially impact one’s bottom line. The cost of caring is rising as demand grows

Take action to brighten a caregivers day:

Send a note of gratitude to someone in your circle of care.

Find out how best to support your local community caregiving teams.

If you reside in Ontario, check out the resources available at the Ontario Caregivers Organization.    http://www.ontariocaregiver.ca