National Family Caregivers Association

NATIONAL PATIENT SAFETY FOUNDATION
Helps Kick Off National Family Caregivers Month

National Family Caregivers Month, celebrated every November, is a nationally recognized time set aside every year to thank, support, educate and empower more than 50 million family caregivers across the country currently providing over $350 billion in "free" caregiving services. .

FREE Family Caregiver National TeleClass in November
This FREE two-part series features 2 one-hour phone calls:

• Date: November 6 and 13 at 2 p.m. ET
• Title: Communicating Effectively with Healthcare Professionals
• To register visit: www.thefamilycaregiver.org or call 800-896-3650

National Patient Safety Foundation is pleased to be an endorsing organization of NFC Month, created by the National Family Caregivers Association to bring attention to the needs of family caregivers. "This year we are encouraging people to speak up during National Family Caregivers Month." said Suzanne Mintz, NFCA president and co-founder. "One of the most important attributes of being an advocate for your loved one is the ability to speak up to health care professionals protecting not only the health and safety of your loved ones but for yourself as well."

Top 10 Ways to Celebrate National Family Caregivers Month 2008

1. Offer a few hours of respite time to a family caregiver so they spend time with friends, or simply relax.
2. Send a card of appreciation or a bouquet of flowers to brighten up a family caregiver’s day.
3. Encourage local businesses to offer a free service for family caregivers through the month of November.
4. Invite family caregivers to participate in the National Family Caregivers Association’s FREE national TeleClass to learn how to communicate more effectively with health care professionals.  The 2 free one hour sessions will be November 6 and 13 at 2 p.m. ET.  For more information visit www.thefamilycaregiver.org.
5. Help a family caregiver decorate their home for the holidays or offer to address envelopes for their holiday cards.
6. Offer comic relief!  Purchase tickets to a local comedy club, give a family caregiver your favorite funny movie to view, or provide them with a book on tape.
7. Find 12 different family photos and have a copy center create a monthly calendar that the family caregiver can use to keep track of appointments and events. 
8. Offer to prepare Thanksgiving dinner for a caregiving family in your community, so they can just relax and enjoy the holiday.
9. Take a few minutes to write a letter encouraging your mayor, county executive, or governor to issue a local proclamation establishing November as National Family Caregivers Month. Contact information for state government officials can be found at www.firstgov.gov.
10. Help family caregivers find information and resources on the internet or to locate a local support group.