The National Alliance for Caregiving ([NAC], 2021) conducts research on caregiving in the United States every 5 years. In partnership with American Association of Retired Persons (AARP), they released Caregivers in the U.S. 2020. Their findings are remarkable in that the number of caregivers rose from 43.5 million in 2015 to 53 million in 2020. In fact, nearly one in five Americans is providing unpaid care to a loved one. With the aging of America and the popularity of aging in place, the numbers are sure to grow. Another reason for the increase in the number of caregivers is the concomitant increase in people living with Alzheimer's Disease and other dementias. This grew from 22% to 26% in the last 5 years. Sadly, the study also found that the health of caregivers declined in those 5 years, with 21% of caregivers describing that their own health as fair or poor (NAC, 2021).
No other healthcare specialty is more aware of the work and needs of caregivers than clinicians who provide home care. That is why I am so excited to roll out a series of articles on caregiving in every issue in 2022. The articles were originally produced in cooperation with AARP and published in the American Journal of Nursing (AJN). The objective of the series was to help nurses provide tools for family caregivers. Each article includes informational tear sheets and links to educational videos for family caregivers. AJN editor Shawn Kennedy graciously offered the articles for reprint in Home Healthcare Now.
This issue contains two excellent articles - Teaching Wound Care to Family Caregivers and Caring for Aging Skin. Continuing Education Credit is available for both articles. I hope you enjoy the series and share the tear-outs and videos with your patients and their caregivers.
National Caregivers Day will be celebrated February 18, 2022 (National Today, 2021). Take this opportunity to honor caregivers everywhere!
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