What is Family Caregiving?

Family caregiving is the foundation upon which this country's healthcare system depends on. The services provided by family caregivers represent 80% of all home care services and are conservatively valued at $257 billion a year, more than twice the amount spent on paid home care and nursing home services combined.

One in four Americans is in a caregiving situation.  These caregivers include spouses, adult children (most often the eldest daughter), and other relatives and friends.

Caregiving may begin unexpectedly when the elder suffers a physical or mental illness or injury that limits his or her independence. Or, the responsibilities of a caregiver may develop gradually and increase over time as the elder's health declines. In either case, most caregivers are thrust into the situation without planning for it. They learn their skills "on the job." Caregivers frequently must change their lives in some major or minor way to help the elderly family member.

As the number of older people increases, there is an increasing demand for both formal and informal provisions of support across the continuum of care. For many people, the challenges of caregiving are often new experiences. 

Caregivernorth.org is designed to provide informal caregivers living in Northwest Michigan find resource materials, research, training and networking opportunities that address everyday needs and concerns of caregivers.