Dear Editor,
I
recently participated in a tele-town hall hosted by AARP Maine on behalf of
family caregivers across the state. Twelve hundred Maine residents
participated during the hour-long discussion. Our goal? To raise awareness
about the needs of caregivers and to start to examine the supports and services
Maine caregivers need in their own communities.
With
178,000 family caregivers in the State of Maine taking care of a loved one
every day, we know these issues are of paramount importance. When you are a
caregiver, trying to balance work and other home and family responsibilities
can feel overwhelming. The truth is that caregiving can take a toll on your
family as well as your career. I was a caregiver for my mom for over a decade. I
know how hard it can be.
That’s
why AARP Maine is dedicated to working with family caregivers to ensure that
the supports needed to care both for their loved one and for themselves are in
place. As we head into a new year and the next legislative session, we hope to
work toward meaningful solutions to effectively address these issues.
In
addition, caregivers and their families now have access to a free publication
called the Maine Caregiver Resource Guide. The guide is full of state-specific
tips, tools and resources to help family caregivers at every stage of their
caregiving journey. You can get yours today by emailing me@aarp.org.
AARP
has also created a wonderful online resource center so caregivers across the
country can join a network of support and find even more resources. Please
visit www.aarp.org/caregiving for more
information. Let’s work together to support caregivers in Maine.
Lee
Ann Stearns
AARP
Maine Volunteer
Westbrook
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