Celebrated every November, National Family Caregivers Month (NFCM) is a time to recognize and honor family caregivers across the country. It offers an opportunity to raise awareness of caregiving issues, educate communities, and increase support for caregivers.
The national observance is led by Caregiver Action Network (CAN), a nonprofit that provides free education, peer support, and resources to family caregivers. CAN selected the 2022 theme, #CaregivingHappens, to acknowledge the reality that family caregiving is not always convenient or expected.
We know that caregiving happens. Sandwiched KC has been offering virtual support groups and taking calls and requests from family caregivers in distress for four years.
We’ve been busy building a supportive community for ALL family caregivers in the KC metro. We want to welcome, embrace, support, and celebrate family caregivers on their journeys.
Our mission is to create opportunities for family caregivers to find local support and shared wisdom.
Our vision is for family caregivers to
- recognize their valued role,
- have opportunities to connect with other family caregivers so they do not feel alone
- have a chance to share their knowledge and learn new ways of supporting their carees and themselves on their path to the good life.
It is estimated that According to the 2020 Report, Caregiving in the US, 20% of Americans provide care for an adult family member who needs support.1 In the greater Kansas City area, there are estimated to be nearly 500,000 family caregivers.
Caregiving is universal. Many people are balancing being parents and caring for aging loved ones or loved ones with a disability, spending an estimated 13 days each month helping with things like shopping, food preparation, housekeeping, laundry, transportation, and giving medication. These same people frequent your offices and storefronts.
Won’t you help us keep it going? Because caregiving is definitely not going to stop happening!
National Family Caregivers Month is a great time to demonstrate your commitment to family caregivers and show them you appreciate their honorable and caring efforts.
There are many ways you can help us continue to help family caregivers in the KC metro.
Let’s partner together to ensure all family caregivers are adequately prepared and supported for their important roles!
Source:
1. Caregiving in the US. https://www.caregiving.org/research/caregiving-in-the-us/caregiving-in-the-us-2020/
