PA Department of Aging Marks November as Caregiver Support Month
HARRISBURG, Pa.- Secretary of Aging Brian Duke encourages all Pennsylvanians to recognize November as National Family Caregiver Month. The designation honors the efforts of caregivers in the commonwealth.
A family caregiver is someone who provides any type of unpaid help or care to a loved one who is ill or has a disability. Whether it is physical, emotional or functional, a caregiver enables a person to remain in their home and community.
“Family and informal caregivers such as friends and neighbors are an invaluable source of support and service,” Duke said. “We ask Pennsylvanians to take time this month to acknowledge and thank these caregivers for all they do. We also encourage family caregivers to reach out for information and support to improve caregiving skills and discover new tools and resources.”
Pennsylvania has more than 1.3 million informal caregivers. These individuals provide an estimated 1.4 billion hours of unpaid help or care every year. As the older population increases, more adults will assume the role of caregiver.
The Department of Aging provides assistance to caregivers through the Pennsylvania Caregiver Support Program. The program provides information and training in caregiving skills. It helped more than 7,000 caregivers during the last fiscal year.
For those eligible, the Pennsylvania Caregiver Support Program also offers reimbursement for the cost of respite care and assistance with home modifications and some out of pocket expenses.
Caregivers are encouraged to access resources, including a taped series of caregiver information sessions on the department’s website. Additional information and an application for the Pennsylvania Caregiver Program are available through local Area Agencies on Aging.
For more information about the Pennsylvania Caregiver Support Program and the taped caregiving series, please call 1-800-753-8827 or visit www.aging.state.pa.us.