Before we head out for Thanksgiving break, we want to recognize family caregivers—a pillar of our healthcare system that often goes unrecognized.
By the numbers: The U.S. had more than 53 million family caregivers in 2020, making up the bulk of the caregiving workforce. For comparison, the U.S. had 1 million physicians in 2019 and 4.2 million registered nurses in 2020.
The public health community can do more to support family caregivers,says a recent report by the National Alliance for Caregiving (NAC), which calls for better data collection to understand the scope of family caregiving and caregivers’ needs, as well as improved support services.
What they’re saying: “Family caregivers are essential to safeguarding the health of millions of Americans, but they often perform this role at the expense of their own health, emotional well-being, and financial security, creating a silent public health crisis,” says NAC President and CEO Jason Resendez.
Helping caregivers is the goal of a new national strategy, prepared by the RAISE Act Family Caregiving Advisory Council and The Advisory Council to Support Grandparents Raising Grandchildren, with support from federal agencies. The goals include assisting caregivers through improved awareness and data, better partnerships and engagement, and improved support and financial services.
BIO resources for families and patients include Guiding Principles for Interaction With Patient Advocacy Organizations and the Clinical Trials Power of Participation website, which helps patients and their families understand and join clinical trials.
November is National Family Caregivers Month—join the conversation and lend your support with #NationalFamilyCaregiversMonth and #CaregivingHappens and visit the Caregiver Action Network (CAN) to learn more.
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