With the population aging — by 2030, the number of people age 65 and older is expected to be twice what it was in 2000 — family members and friends increasingly find themselves in caregiver roles.
It’s estimated that 34.2 million U.S. residents provide unpaid care to an adult age 50 or older, according to a 2015 study conducted by AARP and the National Alliance for Caregiving. (Another 9.3 million took care of a child.) More than 1 million New Jersey residents are caregivers.
While caring for a loved one can be fulfilling, it also can take a toll physically and emotionally. Too often, caregivers devote themselves to loved ones while ignoring their own needs. During National Family Caregivers Month, caregivers are encouraged to mind their own well-being.
November is National Family Caregivers Month
Tips for Caregivers:
Ways to Support Caregivers:
NewBridge Services provides support through its counseling services. For help, visit NewBridge at newbridge.org or call (973) 316-9333.
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NewBridge Services, a 501c(3) nonprofit, is a premier provider of counseling services, housing and educational programs in northern New Jersey serving 10,000 adults and seniors last year alone. NewBridge treats mental illnesses and addictions; teaches skills for coping with stress, grief and challenging relationships; builds and manages affordable housing; offers school-based programs that teach children and adolescents resiliency skills for healthy emotional development; helps young adults succeed in their education and prepare for careers; and supports seniors so they can remain independent. Throughout its more than 50-year history, NewBridge has remained true to its mission of bringing balance to people’s lives by tracking shifts in communities’ needs and providing innovative, effective programs to meet them.