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OKLAHOMA CAPITOL -- Oklahoma joins the nation this month in celebrating “National Family Caregivers Month.” Family caregivers are individuals who take on the enormous responsibility of caring for loved ones who are aging, chronically ill or disabled.
President George W. Bush recently issued a White House Proclamation naming November as “National Family Caregivers Month.” A link to this proclamation can be found at the White House Web site and for more information about the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services’ Administration on Aging and National Family Caregivers Month.
Oklahoma Department of Human Services’ Roy Keen, director of OKDHS’ Aging Services Division, praised Oklahoma’s family caregivers and said they provide more than 80 percent of all homecare services – saving millions in Medicare, Medicaid and private payers’ costs.
Reports by AOA estimate nationally that family caregivers contribute services that would cost more than $254 billion. More than 22.4 million caregiver spouses, adult children, relatives and friends are the mainstay for older persons in this country, providing older persons with unpaid help with their shopping, transportation and household chores, as well as bathing and dressing, meals and medications.
In November 2000, the federal government implemented the National Family Caregiver Support Program administered by the AOA to provide funding for family caregiver programs in every state.
During Federal Fiscal Year 2004, Oklahomans who are serving as family caregivers received 27,610 units of service through the National Family Caregiver Support Program. Such units of service included information and assistance to 7,396 caregivers; access assistance to 1,793 caregivers; counseling, training and support group services to 3,847 caregivers; respite to 2,648 caregivers and supplemental services, including school supplies for children to 157 caregivers.
Keen said a recent national survey of older Americans showed that while most caregivers want and need help, many are unaware of free community services and information. Oklahomans can find out more about the National Family Caregiver Program and caregiver services available through local Area Agencies on Aging (AAAs) by calling the ASD sponsored Senior Info-Line at 1 (800) 211-2116.
Information for long-distance caregivers is available through the national Eldercare Locator number, 1 (800) 677-1116.
“If aging isn’t an issue of concern to Oklahomans now, it will be in the future,” Keen said.
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