National Family Caregiver Month

November is National Family Caregiver Month, marked to recognize the substantial contribution those caring for loved ones make to their families and society as a whole.

According to state Department of Health officials, it is also a time to encourage caregivers to reach out for assistance from public and private sources, and educate business and civic leaders about what still needs to be done to support this growing segment of the population.

In Hawai‘i, it is estimated that over 114,000 people are providing care for loved ones and friends, many of them holding down full-time jobs and managing families of their own at the same time.

Prolonged caregiving can take a toll on the physical and psychological health of the caregiver, with one survey showing that the stresses of family caregiving can adversely affect employee productivity.

The survey showed:

• Some 49 percent of respondents went into work late, left early, or took time off during work to care for friends or loved ones;
• 11 percent took leaves of absence;
• 10 percent quit jobs;
• 7 percent worked fewer hours, or took less-demanding jobs;
• 4 percent lost job benefits;
• 4 percent chose early retirement;
• 3 percent turned down promotions.

Since family members provide more than 80 percent of all long-term care services, and in many cases their first lines of contact with professionals are their family physicians, primary-care doctors play key roles in safeguarding the health of the family and making referrals for assistance for caregiving families, a DOH spokesperson said.

For more information, please contact the county Agency on Elderly Affairs, 241-6400.