Caregivers Day: Tips and resources for those caring for others

Published on February 14, 2023

Family caregivers play a vital role in the health and wellness of their loved one. It is a labor of love that often comes with its own unique challenges. To honor these individuals, we’ve highlighted resources, tips, and stories for caregivers to help during one of life’s most difficult journeys.

In 2020, more than one in five Americans (21.3%) were caregivers and had provided care to an adult or child with special needs within the previous year. With approximately 53 million adults now serving as caregivers, this is nearly an increase of 10 million adults from the estimated 43.5 million caregivers in 2015.*
*Learn more from AARP.

If you or someone you know is caring for a loved one with a life-limiting illness, please share these resources from Alive and other organizations.

Our family caregivers can count on these resources from Alive for extra support:

1. Hospice care gives both patient and caregiver the chance to make the most of their precious time together. Many people simply don’t realize that hospice care is *not* just for the final days of life. It is available to patients for several months and sometimes even longer. Others fear that choosing hospice means “giving up” on a loved one. But the truth is, most of the families who come to us, say they wish they had come sooner. Alive has residences in Murfreesboro and Nashville where patients can receive round-the-clock care when their caregiver needs a respite. Find out if hospice care may be right for you and/or your loved one.

2. Volunteer services at Alive range from companionship to hairstyling to therapy pet visits and more, and they are completely free to patients and families. These extra services offer additional comfort and support to patients and those they love.

3. Caregiver and grief support is available to the community. Your loved one does not need to have been cared for by Alive. The Caregiver Connection Support Group meets every second Monday and brings caregivers together to combat the isolation and stress that can come with such weighty responsibilities. Participants support and encourage one another, receive resources for self-care, and take a breather from daily demands with others who are navigating similar challenges. Register here!