Every year, Senior Concerns hosts a Caregiver Recognition Day event to honor family caregivers. As we prepare for this year’s event, I am again reminded of our community’s incredible strength and compassion.
I often write about issues that family caregivers manage every day. While each person’s needs are unique, the caregiver community shares many similarities that bind them together.. Yet so often family caregivers tell me that they feel so alone.
However, statistics show that caregivers are not alone. Over half of all older adults receive some care from a loved one. In Ventura County, people aged 60+ now outnumber those under 18. In fact, in 2020, California family caregivers contributed over 884 million hours of unpaid care to their loved ones.
The best thing about Senior Concern’s annual Caregiver Recognition Day event is that for at least one afternoon, no caregiver in the room has to feel alone. They can spend the day alongside others caring for an aging loved one, and leave knowing they are part of this large and strong community.
Family caregivers are the behind-the-scenes heroes who make sure their loved ones (most often their spouse or parent) have what they need. They take them to doctor’s appointment, ensure they have meals, ensure their safety, provide emotional support, and they may even provide personal and physical care.
For those doing these tasks, it often feels like a 24/7 job. They cannot turn off their phones at night for fear of a phone call. They are always listening in case their loved one gets up. They are always holding their breath for the next thing to happen, the next fall, infection, behavior, or stage of decline. This can become overwhelming if the caregiver does not have enough support, information, and resources.
This year’s theme of Caregiver Recognition Day is “Invigorating Your Caregiver Power.” Every caregiver has power inside them, but sometimes, we need a little energy to invigorate that power and know our strength. This event is meant to do just that.
Caregiver Recognition Day will be held on Tuesday, May 6th, at Los Robles Greens in Thousand Oaks. Doors open at 10:30 a.m., and the event begins at 11 a.m. and ends at 1:30 p.m. Registration is free but required. Register online at https://www.seniorconcerns.org/caregiver-recognition-day/ or call 805-497-0189 for more information.
There will be speakers, including Kemi Reeves, who is both the Director of the Nursing Health Care Equity program for the UCLA Health System and the Associate Director of the UCLA Alzheimer’s and Dementia Care Program. She will discuss how to manage not only the nutritional needs of the person you are caring for but also how to handle the emotions surrounding feeding your loved one.
We will also hear from Brian Barry, the Executive Director of the Ventura County Medical Association, who will be discussing how to harness one’s power as a caregiver.
The phrase, “it takes a village,” is often used to describe the need for a community around you when raising children. That need is no different when caring for an aging loved one. The family caregivers around us deserve to feel they are part of a village, a community that supports them.
If you are a caregiver, please accept this invitation to the annual Caregiver Recognition Day. Help spread the word to the other caregivers you know and let us thank them for all the care they provide.
Martha Shapiro can be reached at Senior Concerns at 805-497-0189 or by email at mshapiro@seniorconcerns.org.
