Family Care Givers
Who are caregivers?
Family caregivers or informal caregivers are persons who provide care to family members, friends or neighbors who need assistance. For example, caring for a husband with cancer, a wife with a stroke, a grandparent with Alzheimer's disease, a neighbor who is diabetic, or a friend who had surgery. Family caregivers or informal caregivers are unpaid and may live with the person or separately. Formal caregivers are caregivers who are paid care providers associates with some system.
More than 50 million Americans care for a chronically ill, aged, or disabled person. Family caregivers are the largest source of long term care services in the United States. The economic value of family and informal caregivers has been estimated at $257 billion annually (National Family Caregivers Association, 2005).
Web sites for family caregivers:
National Family Caregivers Association
www.thefamilycaregiver.org
Phone: 1-800-896-3650
Supports, empowers, educates, and speaks up for caregivers. Addresses common needs and concerns of all caregivers.
Family Caregiver Alliance
www.caregiver.org
Phone: 1-800-445-8106
Seeks to improve the quality of life for caregivers through education, service, research and advocacy.