Sharyn from Georgia is not alone. She is one of more than 2 million family caregivers across Georgia who work tirelessly caring for aging parents, spouses and other loved ones so that they can continue living independently, with dignity, at home — where they want to be.
“I chose to take care of my sweet Mom in our home the last 19 months of her life. Mom was 94 years old (I was 64) and she was suffering with vascular dementia/Lewy Body Alzheimer’s. I promised her I would always care for her no matter what. Mom was worried about the burden, and I would simply say, ‘You took care of my every need for 18 years; when you have been with me for 18 years, we will talk,’” says Sharyn.
Sharyn has shared her story online at "I Heart Caregivers" (www.aarp.org/iheartcaregivers). She represents one of more than 1 million people who quietly serve as the backbone of elder care in our state, providing unpaid care valued at about $13 billion annually. With the vast majority of older Georgians wanting to remain in their homes and communities as they age, the contribution of family caregivers cannot be overlooked. Without the help of family caregivers, too many of our seniors would end up in costly institutions — often paid for by the state, through Medicaid.
As we take a moment to recognize family caregivers, our unsung heroes, it becomes abundantly clear: Caregiving is now a common family dynamic. If you’re not a caregiver now, you were one in the past, or will likely become one in the future.
Today, the average family caregiver is a 49-year-old female taking care of an older woman, usually her mother; she does this for nearly five years. She will devote at least 20 hours a week to helping her loved one with tasks like bathing and dressing, meal preparation, transportation and chores around the house. Along with being a caregiver, she has a full or part-time job, so caring for her loved ones is done in her “spare time.”
For some family caregivers, their role is more involved as they care for a loved one 24 hours a day, seven days a week, often performing complicated medical tasks like wound care, injections and medication management — once the domain of only doctors or nurses.
Bottom line: Family caregivers do remarkable things every day to care for their loved ones. But this labor of love is not without its challenges. More than 3 in 10 family caregivers are very or extremely emotionally stressed. For family caregivers who provide assistance for more than 21 hours a week, sacrifice time away from family and friends, or live with the loved one for whom they are caring, that stress is, not surprisingly, increased.
While they would not have it any other way, family caregiving is a big job, and caregivers could use a little help.
That’s why AARP is standing up for common-sense solutions, such as caregiver employee leave, so family caregivers do not have to worry about losing their pay — or their jobs — when they take time off from work to bring their older loved one to a doctor’s appointment; and making sure caregivers have access to such community resources as home care and adult day care, as well as the tools to provide safe and effective care for their loved ones.
Every day is an opportunity for us to recognize the 2 million family caregivers in Georgia who give their hearts to help their older loved ones stay at home — where they want to be. To recognize these unsung heroes, AARP launched “I Heart Caregivers” so family caregivers across America can share their stories and make their voices heard.
To all our family caregivers in Georgia, thank you for all that you do. We ♥ you.
