We are a society of caregivers. The Area Office on Aging (AOoA) of Northwestern Ohio says that unpaid family caregiving amounts to 87 percent of care provided outside of a facility. That care nationwide, according to AOoA President / CEO Justin Moor, involves roughly 40 million family caregivers providing 37 billion hours of care, at a potential annual value of $470 million.
AOoA celebrated more than 50 caregivers and kinship families at its 2nd annual Honoring Caregivers Recognition Luncheon Nov. 8 in Maumee. Honorees were nominated by the community for their extraordinary services over the past year. The setting was also an opportunity to highlight the support programs the organization offers to families caring for younger and older members.
Caregivers “are selfless and do an incredible job,” Moor said. “It is stressful emotionally (caregivers spend, on average, over 22 hours a week providing care), and a thankless role, but it’s extremely important. Caregivers may think that no one cares, but we see you and we celebrate you.” Caregivers typically aid in meeting the daily needs of another person. Responsibilities may include bathing, dressing, feeding, transportation, grocery shopping, housework, managing incontinence, assisting with mobility, preparing meals, dispensing medicines and communicating with medical staff.
The AOoA also supports “kinship” families, which are grandparents and other relatives rearing children in their extended families. Many of these caregivers are also supporting older relatives.
AOoA’s Caregiver of the Year is Cynthia Ball, with finalists including Cynthia Gibb, Joan Cuffman, Jeffrey Cole and Frank and Pam Wetmore. The Kinship Caregiver of the Year is Carmen Denton. Finalists included Tammie Watkins, Beverly Byrd, Kemelie Chandler and Elizabeth Siefert.
The celebration coincides with National Family Caregivers Month, which is an opportunity each November to raise awareness of caregiving issues, educate communities and increase support for caregivers. AOoA offers a wide range of programs and services for individuals and families caring for loved ones, including a program to compensate caregivers.
Check out AOoA’s Assisted Living Waiver Program, Benefits Counseling, Family Caregiver Support Program and In-Home Care Programs (including PASSPORT program). Lucas County also offers a variety of assistance programs, and AOoA’s RSVP program provides older adults an opportunity to volunteer in a variety of programs around the community.
In the meantime, say thank you to the caregivers you know:
- Listen & provide emotional support
- Offer practical (and specific) help – do the laundry or dishes, pickup food, mow the lawn, run the errands
- Give them a break – offer to step in for a few hours
- Help them take care of themselves
- Keep them included and stay in touch
