When you hear the words \u201cfamily caregiver\u201d what image comes to mind? Odds are, you envision a woman. We tend to assume that family caregivers are wives, daughters, sisters, nieces, and granddaughters. But here\u2019s a surprise: According to a recent Pew Research Center report, 45 percent of relatives caring for older adults in the U.S. are men.
\nWhat accounts for the growing percentage of men caring for older family members? According to a recent Wall Street Journal article, decades-long declines in family size, and increasingly far-flung families, are likely contributors. If your aging mom needs help, and you\u2019re the only nearby, you step up to bat. Period.<\/p>\n
So this month\u2014National Family Caregiver Month<\/a>\u2014and beyond, we at the American Geriatrics Society Foundation for Health in Aging (HIA) hope you\u2019ll show your support for the women and men you know who are caring for their aging relatives. While growing numbers of husbands, sons, brothers, nephews, and grandsons are now playing this role, they may be less likely than women to reach out for help with caregiving when they need it, according to a recent Wall Street Journal\u00a0article<\/a>. This means we need to do more to reach out to them.<\/p>\n Organizations and services for family caregivers are already doing this. The Journal story, for example, spotlights a Colorado home care service that created a virtual community just for men\u2014www.malecaregivercommunity.com<\/a>\u2014thinking it would be more appealing to male caregivers . It has been. \u201cSince it started in June, more than 84 discussions have developed,\u201d the paper reports.<\/p>\n In addition to support, family caregivers also need top-notch information. And that\u2019s where Healthinaging.org comes in. Among other things, it offers comprehensive information about caring for even the most medically complex older adults\u2014those with multiple, chronic health problems<\/a>. Just as important, it offers information about caring for yourself <\/a>if you\u2019re a caregiver. We hope you\u2019ll mention the site to the family caregivers you know\u2014 men and women alike.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":" When you hear the words \u201cfamily caregiver\u201d what image comes to mind? Odds are, you envision a woman. We tend to assume that family caregivers are wives, daughters, sisters, nieces, and granddaughters. But here\u2019s a surprise: According to a recent … Continue reading