Letters: Nov. 24, 2016

Caregiving

As a member of the Washington State Council on Aging, I write this letter because November is National Family Caregivers Month. The theme for 2016 is “Take Care to Give Care.”

We in Whitman County work hard to take good care of our families. Caregiving can be rewarding but 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. A significant objective of our care network should be to assist family caregivers – something as simple as a bit of time to care for self in the form of respite activities can make all the difference. Caregivers are giving their help and need our help as well.

Each year, more of us are caring for a loved one with a chronic condition, disability or the frailties of old age. During National Family Caregivers Month, we must remember that to be strong enough to care for our loved ones, we must Take Care to Give Care.

Art Swannack,

Lamont,

Whitman County Commissioner