50m Caregivers Targeted by US National Public Education Program

Main Category: Caregivers / Homecare
Article Date: 28 Oct 2004 - 13:00 PDT

email to a friend   printer friendly   opinions  

The National Family Caregivers Association and the National Alliance for Caregiving Team Up to Tell Family Caregivers "It's Not All Up to You"

The National Family Caregivers Association (NFCA) and the National Alliance for Caregiving (Alliance), two of the nation's preeminent organizations dedicated to the advocacy and issues of family caregivers, announce the launch of a public education campaign in partnership with Eisai Inc. to advise the escalating population of family caregivers* of the critical need to acknowledge their caregiver role, its impact on their lives, and their need for help. While one out of five men and women in the U.S. provides care for an aging or chronically ill loved one over 18, most do not view themselves as caregivers.

The multi-media outreach program, FAMILY CAREGIVING…it's not all up to you, is being made possible through the generous support of Eisai Inc. Public Service Announcements will raise awareness of the relationship between feeling better and doing better among family caregivers. Extensive research conducted by NFCA and the Alliance provided the basis for high impact messages that are most likely to resonate with the nation's family caregivers**, and to produce actionable results such as (1) recognition of, and identification with, family caregiver issues, (2) realization that they are not alone, and (3) visits to www.familycaregiving101.org for help.

According to Lonnel Coats, President & COO, Eisai Inc., "Eisai is proud to enable this outstanding, innovative public information campaign as an extension of our human health care mission to increase benefits to patients and their families. It is clear that caregivers need help… not just now, but in generations to come. Family caregivers will benefit from the knowledge that asking for help is a good thing to do not only for themselves, but especially for their loved ones," Mr. Coats said.

Suzanne Mintz, NFCA president and co-founder said, "The campaign is intended to present the issues that most often accompany the role of a family caregiver in a way that strikes close to home, prompting self-identification and action. The new Web site will provide opportunities for learning and getting support," Ms. Mintz said.

Intended to deliver a wake up call to the nation's family caregivers, campaign messages include:

IF YOU'RE CARING FOR ANOTHER FAMILY MEMBER, TRYING YOUR HARDEST AND DOING YOUR BEST ARE TWO DIFFERENT THINGS. In trying to do it all, you may reach a point of diminishing returns where the level of care-despite your best efforts-may be less than it could or should be.

YOU'RE CARING FOR ANOTHER FAMILY MEMBER, KNOW THAT THE BIGGEST HEALTH RISK MIGHT BE YOU. Recent findings reveal that this role can be precarious-for both parties. While trying to do it all, you can become overwhelmed and risk your own health. As this happens, the level of care you're providing may also suffer.

The concept of creating a Web site designed to serve as a "First Stop" for people who have found themselves dealing with the issues of caregiving is unique to this program. Gail Hunt, Alliance president stated, "The 2004 National Alliance for Caregiving survey indicates the Internet is the number one place family caregivers turn to for help and information. The new Web site provides a place for understanding family caregiver issues, as well as a source to which they can return whenever they move to new levels of caregiving," Ms. Hunt said.

The National Family Caregivers Association (NFCA) is a grassroots organization that educates, supports, empowers and advocates for family caregivers. NFCA reaches across the boundaries of age, relationship, and diagnosis to address the common needs and concerns of all family caregivers. NFCA espouses a philosophy of self-advocacy and self-care that is predicated on the belief that caregivers who choose to take charge of their lives, and who view caregiving as but one of its facets, are in a position to be happier and healthier individuals. For more information call 1-800-896-3650 or visit http://www.thefamilycaregiver.org.

Established in 1996, the National Alliance for Caregiving (Alliance) is a nonprofit coalition of nearly 40 national organizations that focuses on issues of family caregiving across the age span. The Alliance was created to conduct research, do policy analysis, develop national programs for caregivers, and increase public awareness of caregiving issues. The Alliance's founding partners were AARP, the American Society on Aging, the Department of Veterans Affairs, NCOA and n4a. For more information call (301) 718-8444 or visit http://www.caregiving.org.

Eisai Inc. is a US pharmaceutical subsidiary of Tokyo-based Eisai Co., Ltd., a research-based human health care company that discovers, develops and markets products in more than 30 countries. Established in 1995, Eisai Inc. began marketing its first product in the United States in 1997 and has rapidly grown to become an integrated pharmaceutical business. Drawing on the R&D strengths of its global parent company, Eisai Inc. focuses its efforts in four therapeutic areas: neurology, gastrointestinal disorders, oncology and acute care. For more information call (201) 287-2052 or visit http://www.eisai.com.

* Caregiving in the U.S.; Key Findings; 2004 National Alliance for Caregiving and AARP

** Self Awareness In Family Caregiving: A Report on the Communication Environment; www.caregiving.org; February 2002

• Additional
• References
• Citations