
Encouraging Family Caregivers to Self-Identify as Caregivers
The First Step in Family Caregiver Integration: Identifying and Recording Information on Family Caregivers
As we discussed in this post, it’s not always easy for healthcare providers and organizations to identify and recognize family caregivers, in part because neither those receiving care nor their family members may identify family as “caregivers.” We are, after all, first and foremost, family who see ourselves as daughters and sons, caring for the person who cared for us. For health care professionals, it may also not yet be routine to ask a patient if there is someone who helps with their daily care. The passage of the CARE Act (Caregiver Advise, Record, Enable) Act in 40 states has helped propel discussions, as hospitals and other organizations in these states are now asking questions to help identify family caregivers and ensure their inclusion in the appropriate health care records. Best practices include making the following activities part of routine interactions with patients and their families:- Asking patients for permission to talk to family members to learn about caregiving needs and routine.
- Incorporating a caregiver assessment to ensure providers understand what a family caregiver is able and willing to do.
- Asking which family members should be involved in advanced care planning conversations.
More insights like this:
-
3 Ways to Strengthen Caregiver Mental Health
Read more: 3 Ways to Strengthen Caregiver Mental HealthBeing a caregiver often comes with many anxieties and challenges that one must navigate. Sometimes these outcomes can affect a caregiver’s mental health. Caregiving often results in chronic stress, which negatively impacts a caregiver’s physical and mental health. Moreover, nearly 33% of unpaid caregivers reported experiencing mental or behavioral health symptoms such as…
-
Caregiver Nation: A Pivotal Moment for Family Caregiving in the U.S.
Read more: Caregiver Nation: A Pivotal Moment for Family Caregiving in the U.S.This year’s National Family Caregivers Month signifies a crucial turning point in the history of family caregiving policies and awareness. From advancements at the state level to federal initiatives, there’s a growing commitment to addressing the needs of our nation’s 53 million family caregivers. This positive shift is long overdue. The demands placed…
-
A Thank You Letter to Family Caregivers
Read more: A Thank You Letter to Family CaregiversIn celebration of National Family Caregivers Month (NFCM), Careforth President and CEO Matt Marek shared his appreciation for family caregivers across the nation in a letter. The letter from Matt appeared in the Boston Globe, Hartford Courant, Atlanta Journal-Constitution, and the Indianapolis Star. Matt welcomes you to join Careforth in supporting the 53 million family…