MORE INFORMATION
Who are caregivers?
Family caregivers or informal caregivers are persons who provide care to family members, friends or neighbors who need assistance — for example, caring for a husband with cancer, a wife with a stroke, a grandparent with Alzheimer's disease, a neighbor who is diabetic or a friend who had surgery. Family caregivers or informal caregivers are unpaid and may live with the person or separately. Formal caregivers are caregivers who are paid care providers associates with some system. "To live is so startling
it leaves little time for anything else."
it leaves little time for anything else."
— Emily Dickinson
More than 50 million Americans care for a chronically ill, aged or disabled person. Family caregivers are the largest source of long-term care services in the United States. The economic value of family and informal caregivers has been estimated at $257 billion annually (National Family Caregivers Association, 2005).
Websites for family caregivers:
National Family Caregivers Association
(800) 896-3650
This association supports, empowers, educates and speaks up for caregivers and addresses common needs and concerns of all caregivers.
Family Caregiver Alliance
(800) 445-8106
This alliance seeks to improve the quality of life for caregivers through education, service, research and advocacy.
The Marquette Neighborhood Health Center
