November is National Caregiving Month and the American Red Cross will celebrate by promoting caregiving and sharing information with those interested.

Families now are choosing to keep elderly family members in their homes instead of sending them to nursing homes, said Laurie Abell, case manager for Elderly Care Services, 330 Grove St.

While staying with their families, elderly and disabled family members are depending on these family members be caregivers. These caregivers help them to do things they find difficult to do, such as bathing or getting out of bed.

The DeKalb Red Cross provided a Family Caregiving presentation Saturday, promoting the month and featuring a video on caregiving skills and methods. DeKalb Mayor Greg Sparrow also spoke at the event.

A growing trend in modern families is being called “sandwich generation,” Abell said.

This is when adults 20 to 40 years old are taking care of both younger children and elderly parents, she said.

A caregiver provides long-term care for the elderly and disabled, said Todd Mikesell, the health and safety services coordinator at the DeKalb chapter of the American Red Cross.

Some of their responsibilities include assisting with bathing, getting in and out of bed, paying off bills and providing nutritious meals while making sure the individual gets whatever medications needed.

“In general, a challenge caregivers face is taking care of the people they love and trying not to burn out,” Abell said.

Caregivers take care of elderly family members with illnesses like Alzheimer’s and the stress may lead to frustration and anger toward the elder.

These caregivers also may have jobs or other responsibilities and don’t have available sources needed in caring for the individual.

“It takes a very special person to be a caregiver. You have to be devoted to maintaining the dignity of the person they care for,” Mikesell said.

Resources are available for aiding a caregiver. Respite is a temporary relief for caregivers who are caring for an individual with disabilities or a terminal disease.

This includes equipment for bathing the individual or nursing home respite beds, Abell said.

Nursing home respite beds, or adult day cares, are arranged spaces in nursing homes where caregivers can leave the individual for a day or two.

This makes it easier for caregivers to get a break or tend to other responsibilities while knowing their loved one is in a safe environment where they can be taken care of, Abell said.

For more information, call the DeKalb chapter of the American Red Cross at 756-7339.

In general, a challenge caregivers face is taking care of the people they love trying not to burn out.”

Laurie Abell

Case manager, Elderly Services