How communities can honor caregivers

Thanks to advancements in medicine and increased access to medical care, people are living longer. But that progress does not mean people are immune to illnesses or disabilities.

Many caregivers are highly trained professionals, but millions of informal caregivers offer unpaid assistance to the ones they love every day. The senior living resource A Place for Mom indicates the number of unpaid caregivers increased from 43.5 million to more than 53 million between 2015 and 2020. And that increase could be just the tip of the iceberg.

As the need for caregivers increases, communities can heighten their efforts to express their appreciation to the paid and unpaid individuals who work so hard to ensure ill and/or incapacitated individuals get the care they need.

Self-care offerings

Community business owners can offer special discounts or specials for caregivers, particularly those whose businesses involve self-care. This can include spas, salons, therapy clinics, and more.

Support caregiver charities

Communities can collect donations for charities dedicated to supporting caregivers, such as the Family Caregiver Alliance or the National Alliance for Caregivers.

Give a global shout-out

Social media enables people to communicate with individuals all over the world. Acknowledging caregivers on social media can shed light on the roles these important people play. A personalized thank you message has the power to reach millions and inspire others to express their gratitude as well.

Offer support

Some of the best ways to honor caregivers is to offer assistance or support when it's needed. This support can involve physically pitching in or serving as a sounding board if or when a caregiver needs to vent frustrations or share thoughts.

Make signs

In the midst of the COVID-19 pandemic, communities often displayed signs thanking medical professionals that referred to them as heroes. By and large those signs have disappeared, but they can be displayed anew in honor of the various caregivers who devote so much of their time tending to the sick.

Showing caregivers they are appreciated is a worthwhile endeavor any community can embrace.