CHARLESTON, W.Va. — Officials with AARP are reaching out to caregivers in West Virginia and across the United States with the ongoing National Family Caregiving Month.
“We find that there are caregivers who are sons and daughters and husbands and wives and neighbors and friends who are doing this and they just look at it as helping someone they care about,” said Amy Goyer, AARP family issues expert.
She said there are 42 million unpaid family caregivers in the United States, but many of them do not recognize themselves as such.
Family caregivers, she said, contribute an average of 20 hours per week on medical and personal tasks that are becoming increasingly complex and stressful.
Because of that, she said, caregiving can take a toll.
“(For many) They’ve gained weight. They’re not exercising. Their social life and their relationships are suffering. Many are feeling depressed and isolated and alone. We don’t want that. These caregivers are making such contributions,” said Goyer.
“They don’t realize that there’s help out there and there’s assistance for them, so we’re trying to make sure that they get the support that they need and take care of themselves while they’re taking care of others.
Online resources are available for caregivers at www.aarp.org/caregivers.