National MS Society Gateway Area Chapter Helps Kick Off National Family Caregivers Month
National Family Caregivers Month, celebrated every November, is a nationally recognized time to thank, support, educate and empower more than 50 million family caregivers across the country currently providing over $375 billion in "free" caregiving services.
In honor of National Family Caregivers Month there is a FREE national Teleclass/Webinar for family caregivers on November 12; 2:00 – 3:00 EST hosted by the National Family Caregivers Association. Safe & Sound: How to Prevent Medication Mishaps is a one hour program designed to improve the ability of family caregivers to understand how to best communicate about their loved ones’ medication issues with health professionals. For more information and to register: www.thefamilycaregiver.org or call 800-896-3650.
The National MS Society Gateway Area Chapter is pleased to be an official endorsing organization of NFC Month, an annual event created by the National Family Caregivers Association to bring attention to the needs of family caregivers. "We encourage people to speak up during National Family Caregivers Month." said Suzanne Mintz, NFCA president and CEO. "One of the most important attributes of being an advocate for your loved one is the ability to speak up and understand how to best communicate about their loved ones’ medication issues with health professionals.”
NFCA is a national nonprofit organization dedicated to empowering family caregivers to act on behalf of themselves and their loved ones, and to remove barriers to their health and wellbeing. NFCA concentrates its efforts in three primary areas: education, building community, and advocacy. For more information visit www.thefamilycaregiver.org.
Top 10 Ways to Celebrate National Family Caregivers Month 2009
- Offer a few hours of respite time to a family caregiver so they spend time with friends, or simply relax.
- Send a card of appreciation or a bouquet of flowers to brighten up a family caregiver’s day.
- Encourage local businesses to offer a free service for family caregivers through the month of November.
- Invite family caregivers to participate in the National Family Caregivers Association’s FREE national Teleclass/Webinar: Safe & Sound: How to Prevent Medication Mishaps November 12 at 2:00 – 3:00 EST. For registration visit www.thefamilycaregiver.org.
- Help a family caregiver decorate their home for the holidays or offer to address envelopes for their holiday cards.
- Offer comic relief! Purchase tickets to a local comedy club, give a family caregiver your favorite funny movie to view, or provide them with a book on tape.
- Find 12 different family photos and have a copy center create a monthly calendar that the family caregiver can use to keep track of appointments and events.
- Offer to prepare Thanksgiving dinner for a caregiving family in your community, so they can just relax and enjoy the holiday.
- A United States postage stamp honoring the more than 50 million family caregivers in America is officially “under consideration” by the U.S. Citizens' Stamp Advisory Committee for introduction as early as 20ll. Sign the petition HERE and pass it along.
- Help family caregivers find information and resources on the internet or to locate a local support group.
U.S. POSTAGE STAMP HONORING FAMILY CAREGIVERS – SIGN THE PETITION TODAY!
A United States postage stamp honoring family caregivers in America is officially “under consideration” by the U.S. Citizens' Stamp Advisory Committee for introduction as early as 20ll. Sign the petition HERE and pass it along.