The month of November is dedicated to creating awareness for a variety of causes and health-related conditions, including diabetes, eye disease and pancreatic cancer. Great Care takes special pause to also recognize National Alzheimer’s Disease Awareness Month and Family Caregivers Month in November.

“Many of the families we work with include caregivers for loved ones with Alzheimer’s disease, and we offer specialized services that compassionately assist in their journey,” says Great Care Founder and CEO Julie Sullivan. “When Alzheimer’s is present in the caregiving, the transitions families face can present specific aging-related challenges and decisions that we help navigate.”

Such experience with caregiving for Alzheimer’s patients makes Great Care’s Care Compass — which helps those requiring caregiving assistance create a personalized service care plan for in-home care — a valuable option for families.

The Care Compass utilizes the many resources that the Caregiver Action Network (also known as the National Family Caregivers Association) and Alzheimer’s Association provide, including information about Alzheimer’s disease, research advances, caregiving resources, publications, and fundraising and educational events.

National Family Caregivers Month, celebrated each November, is a time to recognize and honor family caregivers across the country. The Caregiver Action Network, the organization that chooses the theme for National Family Caregivers Month annually and spearheads celebration of NFC Month nationally, says celebrating family caregivers during NFC month enables the public to:

• Raise awareness of family caregiver issues
• Celebrate the efforts of family caregivers
• Educate family caregivers about self-identification
• Increase support for family caregivers

During National Family Caregivers Month, the Caregiver Action Network reminds family caregivers that to be strong enough to care for your loved one, they must take care to give care.

“Caregiving can be a rewarding experience, but it is also physically and emotionally demanding. The stress of dealing with caregiving responsibilities leads to a higher risk of health issues among the nation’s 90 million family caregivers,” says the Network.

“So as a family caregiver, remember to pay attention to your own physical and mental wellness, and get proper rest and nutrition. Only by taking care of yourself can you be strong enough to take care of your loved one. You really do need to ‘take care to give care!'”

For more information about the Caregiver Action Network, visit http://caregiveraction.org.

Throughout National Alzheimer’s Disease Awareness Month, the Alzheimer’s Association creates awareness and reminds the general public that caregivers for Alzheimer’s and dementia face special challenges.

“You are not alone. Whether you need information about early-stage caregiving, middle-stage caregiving, or late-stage caregiving, the Alzheimer’s Association is here to help,” the organization says.

The Alzheimer’s Association offers a free, online community for everyone affected by Alzheimer’s or another dementia. ALZConnected Members can share their questions, experiences and tips via message boards and live chat rooms.

Join here.

The Alzheimer’s and Dementia Care Center 24/7 helpline also provides much-needed support at:

• 1-800-272-3900
• http://alz.org

The professionals at Great Care are available to talk with you and your family about all of your home care needs, including respite care. Great Care is a non medical in-home care agency providing quality and affordable elder care in Fishers, IN and the surrounding areas. Call (888) 240-9101 for more information.