Caregiver tip of the month
Over the course of my career working with family caregivers, I have noticed a subtle change in the makeup of who is providing the care.
In 2009, men comprised 34 percent of family caregivers of adults. In 2020, according to a report by the National Alliance for Caregiving and AARP (“Caregiving in the U.S. 2020”), roughly 40 percent of informal caregivers in the U.S. were men. And that number is likely to increase, according to a 2019 NIH study, due to a shrinking family caregiver pool and shifting policies that provide better support for all caregivers, regardless of gender.
Our society has normalized caregiving as a female role, but men are stepping up and taking on the responsibility. As a man providing care for a loved one, there are things you can do to make caregiving easier. Men can be very successful in this role and community resources can help you be the best caregiver possible. In Alaska, the best place to start is by calling your local Aging and Disability Resource Center ( https://health.alaska.gov/dsds/Pages/adrc/default.aspx ). Aging and Disability Resource Centers (ADRCs) help connect caregivers with local resources.
As you begin your caregiving journey be sure to ask questions. Get as much information about your loved one’s condition as you can. Be open to new skills – you may have to learn how to cook, clean, or do other tasks that you haven’t done before. You may need to bathe or dress your loved one or provide personal care. Ask for help from a friend or relative if you need it.
Learn to delegate by deciding which tasks you want to do yourself and then ask for help from others. You can sign up for meal deliveries or online grocery shopping. Most importantly, for all caregivers regardless of gender, you can’t take care of someone else if you don’t take care of yourself, too. Don’t put off your own medical appointments, try to get enough rest, and take pride in the job you are doing. It requires a special person with a lot of love.
