Le Mars, Iowa – November is National Family Caregivers Month, a time to recognize and honor those who care for a child, teen or adult child with special health or behavioral needs or those who care for an adult with a chronic condition.
Family caregivers are unpaid family members, friends or neighbors who assist those who need help. More than 1 in 5 Americans — 53 million people — are providing unpaid care for someone with health or functional needs, according to Caregiving in the U.S. 2020, a research survey conducted every five years by the National Alliance for Caregiving and AARP.
Does your mom or dad take care of a loved one (perhaps one cares for the other)? Do you know what your parents are going through? Your parent is in a new role of caregiver when helping a spouse with things he/she cannot do because of a medical condition’s disabling effects. How do you better support your parent during this time?
Caregiving Relationships: Conversations on Aging is a program for adult children supporting their aging caregiver parents. The virtual workshop will be held via Zoom and is scheduled for Monday, Nov. 7 from 6:30 p.m. to 8:30 p.m. There is no cost to participate, but registration is required. To register or find more information, visit https://go.iastate.edu/RVDOQQ.
Research shows that spousal caregivers are more likely to provide care with help from adult children than to accept help from community supports or non-family members.
Mackenzie DeJong, a Human Services Sciences Specialist in Family Wellbeing with Iowa State University Extension and Outreach says one is a son or daughter to their parent regardless of age, but the role description can change when the parent is in the role of a caregiver. She says the program helps adult children learn to recognize how caregiving affects relationships. It helps them discover their role in making decisions about their parents’ later life.
DeJong said that the program also helps adult children build talking and listening skills and gain ideas on how to start difficult conversations.
For more information, contact DeJong at 712-546-7835 or email mldejong@iastate.edu.
