Help AARP Support Family Caregivers Advocacy
Help AARP Help Family Caregivers
Caregivers usually come to the position with no experience and little if any on-the-job training
Peter Zander/Getty Images AARP is striving to make it easier for family caregivers to help older people remain in their homes and communities Being a family caregiver for a loved one with an advanced — and, sometimes, terminal — illness is part of an unwritten job description for millions of spouses, children and loving friends. I have had the privilege of serving as a — and of hearing stories from many others. They are overwhelmingly tales of love and devotion, tinged with anxiety, exhaustion and feelings of isolation. People usually come to the position with no experience, and they receive little, if any, on-the-job training. See Also: Related Articles
— Receive access to exclusive information, benefits and discounts AARP is striving to make it easier for family caregivers to help older people remain in their homes and communities for as long as they can. We are also working with partners such as the to make sure family caregivers have the information, support and resources they need. You can learn more at the . My story illustrates how valuable such support can be, especially in caring for someone with an advanced illness. In 2010, my wife was diagnosed with a rare and incurable form of cancer that was predicted to be terminal in 18 to 24 months. While she was lucid, we were able to develop and put in place a plan for her advanced care. We reviewed a range of treatment options and selected those that met my wife's goals for her end-of-life care. We prepared advance directives and medical power-of-attorney documents, ensuring that her wishes would be carried out by all her health care providers. See Also: Tell Us What You Think
Write to Eric J. Schneidewind at AARP, 601 E St. NW, Washington, DC 20049, or email . My wife, as she had requested, was able to remain at home, cared for by her family, until her last 36 hours. She was pain-free and clear-minded until a few days before the end. Unfortunately, not everyone's caregiving experience goes so smoothly. Too often, people's wishes are not honored, or even known. Individuals and their families may feel like powerless spectators who don't understand their choices or can't assert their priorities. AARP is trying to help family caregivers, in part by supporting the bipartisan (S. 1549), which would expand Medicare coverage for voluntary planning services and help ensure that advanced care aligns with the preferences of each individual. Please help us help caregivers by telling your senator you'd like a "Yes" vote on S. 1549. Cancel You are leaving AARP.org and going to the website of our trusted provider. The provider’s terms, conditions and policies apply. Please return to AARP.org to learn more about other benefits. Your email address is now confirmed. You'll start receiving the latest news, benefits, events, and programs related to AARP's mission to empower people to choose how they live as they age. You can also by updating your account at anytime. You will be asked to register or log in. Cancel Offer Details Disclosures
Close In the next 24 hours, you will receive an email to confirm your subscription to receive emails related to AARP volunteering. Once you confirm that subscription, you will regularly receive communications related to AARP volunteering. In the meantime, please feel free to search for ways to make a difference in your community at Javascript must be enabled to use this site. Please enable Javascript in your browser and try again.