It's National Family Caregivers Month

And please don’t tell me you feel guilty thinking about yourself. But if you insist on doing it anyway just remember – the best present you can give to the person you’re caring for is your own good health. It’s not about you – it’s about them.

There Is Another Thing You Can Do

NFCA has a fourth message that bears mentioning. It’s Speak Up for Your Rights! – something family caregivers don’t do very well. Above I’ve talked about small things that you can do to protect your health, but there is another way you can protect your health, and that’s by speaking up for legislation that guarantees family caregivers some recognition within the healthcare system. At this point we don’t get any. There aren’t even questions on the forms we fill out in doctors’ offices that ask: Are you caring for a family member or friend who has a chronic condition or disability? Do you have a chronic condition or disability that requires a family member or friend to care for you? At this point we are invisible and that has to change.

There is a lot more to say about this, but for now, for this month, let’s celebrate our selves, and focus on the small things we each can do to Protect Our Health.


National Family Caregivers Month 2006 and the Caring Every Day Campaign of which it is a part would not be possible without the generous support of the following companies and organizations:


Lead Partner

Novartis

Caring Partners

Eisai Inc.

AstraZeneca

Forest Pharmaceuticals, Inc.

Family Partners

Invacare

NFC Month Partners

Adventist HealthCare

GlasxoSmithKline

MetLife Foundation

Serono, Inc.


For more information go to: www.thefamilycaregiver.org or call 1/800 896 3650.