We are closing in fast on National Family Caregiver Month, which is coming up in November.  I want to initiate a massive effort by my fellow family caregivers and my fellow bloggers if possible.  I want to spread the word to write about family caregiving throughout the
month of November and to send letters and e-mails to congressmen about the bills in congress that affect family caregivers.  I will work on more details throughout this month and hopefully have something organized by the first of November.

Family caregivers have the highest stress unpaid job in the world, take some time this month to tell a family caregiver you know thank you by giving them a gift basket.  Whether you buy one, have it sent from a delivery service, or make it yourself, it is sure to make the day (if not year) of the caregiver you give it to.

Some good ideas are flowers, fruit, special treats that you know the caregiver loves such as special kinds of candy or chocolates, teas, coffee.  How about a bath set that is filled with everything needed for a nice luxurious bubble bath? Maybe even some quiet relaxing music too?  Movies are good if you know what they like and do not already have in their collection.

Use your imagination and make a family caregiver feel appreciated this month.

November is National Alzheimer’s Awareness Month.  Find out more about Alzheimer’s and what is being done to fight it, and take the time to say thank you to someone you know that cares for an Alzheimer’s sufferer.

November is National Family Caregiver Month – Celebrate it by thanking a caregiver, whether through giving of a gift basket, sending of a card, sending an e-card, just saying thank you on the phone or even leaving a post on the blog of a caregiver (any caregiver whether you know them or not) – and say “Thank you for all that you do!”

You can use you own words, of course, but November is a month where you have a chance to tell a caregiver that you appreciate what they do.  Don’t miss out on that chance.

Also this is a great time to find out about family caregiving.  It will eventually affect nearly everyone in some manner.  Make a promise to yourself to learn more about family caregivers and what they do over the next 30 days, particularly learn about what resources they have to them (there are not many) and what Caregiver Burnout is.

In addition to being National Family Caregiver Month, November is also National Alzheimer’s Awareness Month.  I will be posting information on Alzheimer’s throughout November and I encourage everyone to take some time during the month to learn more about Alzheimer’s.  I believe that, together, we can find a way to stop this and similar diseases.