November is National Caregiver Month and Rehabmart would like to give a shout-out to all of the family and friends who show their love and friendship by helping a sick or disabled family member or friend. Sure, there are also a large number of dedicated people who do great work as paid professional caregivers and a heartfelt “Thank You” goes out to these special folks too. But, I would like to talk about the people who give their time and effort to help another family member or friend in times of need.

I have firsthand experience with this subject. After my accident seven months ago, when I lost the ability to walk without the assistance of a walker, I was totally incapable in taking care of myself, much less performing my daily duties around the house. My wife has been by my side the entire time taking care of me. The first few months were the worst, as I was in pain and couldn’t get up out of a chair or bed without help. My wife did everything for me, getting my meals, putting on/taking off my shoes, walking with me around the house as I exercised my legs while using a walker, cutting the grass, going to the store…everything. And she is not alone. There are thousands upon thousands of wives, husbands, mothers, fathers, adult children, relatives and friends who every day are assisting a family member or loved one.

In 2010, 30% of all adult Americans had given time to care for a loved one, in 2013, it is 39%. Another upward trend is due to the rise in cases of many different childhood conditions, requiring the percentage of parents caring for their special needs children to increase over the years. The wars in Iraq and Afghanistan have also caused about one million American family members to care for the military members in our families suffering from such things as post-traumatic stress disorder, wounds, illnesses and traumatic brain injury. And as more and more Americans live longer, millions of our elderly with Alzheimer’s disease are taken care of by more than fifteen million family caregivers.

Being a caregiver is not an easy role and at times it can be very difficult. Most people are not prepared to be a caregiver yet sometimes, situations are thrust upon them without prior notice. My case is one example. One day I was walking, and then one simple stumble off the porch and my wife was plunged into a world of challenges physically, emotionally and intellectually. Being a caregiver is, besides a very important role, a role that takes up a lot of the caregiver's personal time and effort, while leading to other unique sacrifices.

Physically, it can be hard on a caregiver with all the lifting and bending, cooking and cleaning that are inherent with daily chores. Emotionally the caregiver can become ‘burned-out’ due to less sleep, through worry, in not having enough time for themselves and also with the stressful thoughts of what the future may bring. Being a family caregiver is just a plain hard job to do, what with providing wound care, bathing assistance, managing medication, and the myriad other tasks. That is why we salute all the family caregivers out there!

Sunrise Medical is also proud to support caregivers by offering some equipment that will assist both the family member and the caregiver. For example, many family members use wheelchairs and sometimes they will be sitting on the wheelchair for a good length of time. Comfort is important and Jay® Basic Cushions will help to reduce the risk of skin shearing. Made from soft, contoured, molded foam to enhance the wheelchair user's stability and comfort, these cushions can help those with low risk of skin breakdown to sit more comfortably for longer periods of time.

There are also different types of wheelchairs for different situations. For example, I sometimes use a wheelchair around the house, but going out someplace can be difficult due to the size and weight of the wheelchair. This is why the Breezy EC Transport Wheelchair is a great thing to have around the house for the times of getting outside and around town. Compact and lightweight, weighing only 19 pounds for the aluminum chair and 26 pounds for the steel chair, this wheelchair will provide the caregiver an easy choice for transporting the family member outside of the house, or for a quick zip around inside the home. The footrest swings away and the back folds down for easy storage in a car or closet. The Breezy Transport also has padded nylon upholstery, a comfortable armrest and large wheels for a nice ride over uneven terrain.

Sometimes a family member will be sitting in a wheelchair for most of the day, and his or her physical safety and comfort are priorities to consider in this stationary experience. The Jay J-Gel Wheelchair Cushions provide mild to moderate pelvic support with a stable contoured foam base along with a gel cube pad overlay. This helps air to circulate and reduces the risk of skin shearing, while it also redistributes weight, relieving pressure.

A growing number of disabled people are larger in weight and size, and the Quickie M6 Bariatric Wheelchair can be a great asset for a bariatric family member along with his or her caregiver. This wheelchair is highly customizable for the specific needs of the family member. It is possible to choose the width and length of the frame and many other options for those big and tall individuals. If the family member needs to be transported, the quick-release axle is standard, allowing the real wheels to be easily removed for transport. This chair also comes with a modular frame construction which will allow the chair to grow and change with the family member. This very stable chair comes with many specialized options to choose from, and has a weight capacity of 650 pounds.

These are just a few of the many items offered by Sunrise Medical to help the family caregivers have an easier time with helping their loved ones. Any help or assistance to these wonderful family caregivers is a benefit for both the family member and caregiver alike. Sometimes, the caregiver is taken for granted, or after a while, may be expected to help without gratitude or even acknowledgment from the rest of the family. Let’s change that and offer a hand to the people who offer much more than that every single day in helping others. The family caregiver is one of the most important people within the family environment and he or she should be recognized for their love and assistance to the family. Go on and give a caregiver a hug and a warm smile, buy them dinner, buy them a professional massage or a thoughtful present, tell them “Thank you”, and appreciate what they do, because one day, we all may need to be taken care of by a loved one.

I dedicate this to my caregiver, Carol, without whose love and assistance, I would not be able to function. Thank you for giving all that you have and still loving me at the end of the day.

Bill Stock
Executive Editor,
Content & Social Media Services
and
Hulet Smith, OT
Rehabmart Team Leader & CEO