Honoring Caregivers

I was my mother's primary care-giver for over 10 years. I believe that family care-giving is an important story that needs to be told to the rest of the nation. One way to tell the story is the proposed US postage stamp campaign honoring caregivers. The objective of the campaign is to bring awareness of the issues facing family caregivers to the general public, healthcare professionals and public policy officials.

"Currently there are more than 52 million family caregivers (approximately 17% of the population) in the United States. A family caregiver is a relative or friend taking care of a loved one who is chronically ill, disabled, or living with the frailties of old age and no longer able to care for themselves. The services provided by family caregivers represent approximately 80% of all home care services and are conservatively valued at more than $375 billion in 2007."

The U.S. Citizen's Stamp Advisory Committee is considering a U.S. postage stamp honoring family caregivers. There is currently a petition to have a US stamp created to honor family caregivers. If you would like to sign the petition, click on the blue word petition. This will take you to the National Family Caregivers website.