National Caregivers Day falls on the third Friday of February. It is a day to honor a special group of people who have selflessly devoted their time and energy to caring for others. 

Individuals who take on the responsibility of caring for another person provide the essentials and necessities of daily living, from medical assistance to personal grooming. Along with direct, hands-on care, caregivers also typically look after the person’s house, nurture their social connections, and deal with doctors, hospitals and insurance companies. The list of tasks can be daunting, especially when maintaining their own personal lives and careers.

Caregiving is a challenging job, and one in five Americans are currently doing it. According to a 2020 report from the National Alliance for Caregiving (NAC) and the American Association of Retired Persons (AARP), 53 million adults in the United States are unpaid caregivers, which is up from the estimated 43.5 million caregivers in 2015.

Compared to 2015, the report also found a greater number of caregivers are providing care to more than one person. This finding, along with the increased prevalence of caregiving, shows our society continues to step up to provide unpaid care to family, friends and neighbors who need assistance. 

If you know someone who is a caregiver, here are a few ideas on how you can show your appreciation and recognize all they do for others:

• Send them a letter or card, thanking them for everything they do.
• Give them a small gift that can bring them comfort such as a book, baked goods, hand lotion or a candle.
• Offer to care for the caregiver’s loved one so they can take an afternoon to rest and make time for themselves.

For our Liberty Hospice families, Liberty can provide respite services for up to five days at a time so caregivers can go on vacation or take a much needed and deserved break. Liberty can offer respite care wherever a person calls home or at one of our Liberty Healthcare and Rehabilitation locations throughout the Carolinas. For more information about our respite care services, give us a call at 800-999-9883 or request a free consultation online.

Liberty HomeCare and Hospice would like to thank all the caregivers who support and care for their loved ones, neighbors and friends. The kindness of caregivers should be celebrated not only on National Caregivers Day, but year-round.