Exploring Caregivers Month: Self-Identifying As A Caregiver

November is National Family Caregivers Month. This year’s theme is #ICare. Caregiver Action Network, who sets the theme each year, focuses this year’s theme around highlighting the importance of self-recognition and self-identity—key factors in caregivers’ access to essential support. “Identifying as a caregiver opens the door to the family caregiver support needed throughout their journey.” Learn more why self-identifying as a caregiver is critical in various settings to ensure the care recipient and the caregiver receive appropriate support.

Canary Health® is proud to contribute to the variety of approaches to supporting caregivers and their care partners this month and every month.

It is our honor to continue to provide our 6-week, digital, Building Better Caregivers® Program to family caregivers supporting US Veterans. To date, we have served over 22,000 caregivers through our partnership with the Department of Veterans Affair’s Caregiver Support Program.

This month we are also offering our program free to all family caregivers in order to acknowledge the support caregivers give and need. See our latest video testimonial here.

We are also featured on a few panel discussions this month for caregivers. One panel discussion, part of the LA CRC, USC C.A.L.M event, features Mary Barbato, Marketing Strategy & Partnerships, Canary Health, who speaks to the importance of caregivers understanding they are essential to the care of their care partner and the healthcare system, and the importance of care/life balance.

Another panel discussion with the American Association of Kidney Patients, features a number of the Canary Health team: Neal Kaufman, Founder & Chief Medical Officer; Katy Plant, General Manager; Candii Dana, Director of Canary Peers; and Corina Paraschiv, Researcher & Analyst. They join the discussion on the work being done to help caregivers self-identify as caregivers as well as the unique needs of kidney health caregivers.

We’ve also included a few articles we thought you’d find helpful, including President Biden’s Proclamation on 2024’s National Family Caregivers Month, and the RAND Corporation's 319-page report on military and veteran caregivers.

If you have any questions or you want to learn more about Canary Health’s program, don’t hesitate to reach out to me at nkafuman@canaryhealth.com.

In good health,

Vicki's Story

By Corina Paraschiv

Vicki tells her story about caring for a veteran with dementia, and how Building Better Caregivers® helped her change her approach and perspective.

“There is no book on how to be a caregiver. Building Better Caregivers taught me that I wasn’t going to do some magic to help my vet be better. Dementia isn’t going anywhere. But I now have the tools and support so that I can adapt with him and make his life as good as I have control over. It was so revolutionary to me. Just say ‘I just have to do this. It’s like taking your medicine. Take the course’.”

Building Better Caregivers online group education and support program is led by peers for peers and complements VA's other Caregiver Support services. The program is available at no cost to all caregivers enrolled in the Caregiver Support Program. Interested caregivers of Veterans that qualify can sign up here.

This month in honor of Caregiver's Month, we’re also offering the program free to all family caregivers in order to acknowledge the support caregivers give and need. Sign up here if you are caring for a non-veteran.

America's Military and Veteran Caregivers

Hidden Heroes Emerging from the Shadows

By Rajeev Ramchand, Sarah Dalton, Tamara Dubowitz, Kelly Hyde, Nipher Malika, Andrew R. Morral, Elie Ohana, Vanessa Parks, Terry L. Schell, Gretchen Swabe, et al, RAND

The RAND Corporation released a 319-page report on military and veteran caregivers.

To access the summary and download the full report click here.

Some highlights from the report are below.

There are 14.3 million military and veteran caregivers, representing 5.5 percent of the U.S. adult population. There are an additional 91.3 million civilian caregivers (35.0 percent of U.S. adults) caring for wounded, ill, or injured civilian adults.

Across all caregivers, most (78 to 81 percent) spend between one and 30 hours per week providing care. Under 10 percent spend less than one hour per week, and 11 to 16 percent spend 31 hours or more per week caregiving.

The estimated aggregate economic value generated by military/veteran caregiving activities, which are largely uncompensated, ranges from $119 billion to $485 billion per year. Military/veteran caregivers incur an estimated $8,583 in annual out-of-pocket costs associated with their caregiving responsibilities. Military/veteran caregivers forgo an estimated $4,522 in annual household income

Am I a Caregiver? The Significance of Self-Identification

by Dr. Aaron Blight, Caregiver Kenetics

Caregiving Kenetics posted a very informative and helpful article on the significance of self-identifying as a caregiver. Some key highlights are below:

The family caregiver role typically isn’t requested or pursued; it pushes itself onto you based upon your loved one’s health condition. Whether or not that role is acknowledged and accepted is another matter altogether. There are plenty of family members who perform care-related tasks without calling themselves caregivers.

The Many Faces of Caregiving

The emotions and responsibilities of caring for a loved one often present new and unexpected challenges. Caregiving has a way of disrupting relationship patterns and consuming your time, resources, and energy. As the trajectory of family caregiving evolves over time, caregivers begin to see themselves and their loved ones differently. They are also prone to create narratives reflecting how they perceive their caregiving experiences.”

Caregiver’s Corner: Supporting Those Caring for Military Members & Veterans with Chronic Conditions

by L.A. California Caregiver Resource Center

In honor of Veterans Day, AAKP hosted an insightful AAKP HealthLine webinar introducing the Canary Health Build Better Caregivers program. This program is designed to support those caring for military members or veterans facing memory challenges, chronic health conditions, and injuries. This panel discussion spotlights the unique needs of kidney health caregivers. Viewers will gain insights from experienced caregivers, along with information on how to access this valuable program to better support their loved ones. This panel discussion features a number of the Canary Health team: Neal Kaufman, Founder & Chief Medical Officer, Katy Plant, General Manager Candii Dana, Director of Canary Peers, and Corina Paraschiv, Researcher & Analyst.

Essential Caregivers: The Art of Balance

by L.A. California Caregiver Resource Center

Caregivers are ESSENTIAL to the well-being of their care recipients. Balancing this partnership and advocacy role with being one’s own best friend and champion takes practice. Experts from the Keck School of Medicine of USC -- Dr. Monica Zell, clinical assistant professor of medicine, Kara Barton, MSW, LCSW, clinical instructor and our own Mary Barbato, Author of ‘ The Space Between’ and caregiver, and others discuss identifying as an essential caregiver, what that role is, and how to find life balance. Hosted by LA CRC, USC Leonard Davis. Watch the panel discussion.

President Biden's Proclamation on National Family Caregivers Month, 2024

by President Biden

The proclamation starts with:

“Family caregivers are the backbone of our Nation, making tremendous sacrifices to be there for the people who need and cherish them most. This month, we honor their selfless love and courage, and we recommit to getting them the support they deserve. They should know their country has their backs”. We at Canary Health want caregivers to know we also have their backs.