November is National Family Caregivers Month, an opportunity to celebrate, recognize and raise awareness of family caregivers. Family caregivers want their loved ones to have the best care possible – at the doctor’s office, at the hospital, and at home. The Caregiver Action Network encourages family caregivers across our community to ask questions, explore options and share in the care decisions that affect the health and well‐being of their loved ones.
The GW Wellbeing Hotline offers tools and resources for GW employees looking for elder care. A great place to start is this resource guide, Choosing the Right Care for an Older Adult. For more Wellbeing Hotline resources, visit my.gwu.edu, click “log in” in the top left corner and select Wellbeing Hotline under the Working tab.
Caring for Loved Ones
This year’s theme is #BeCareCurious and is illustrated by the following actions:
- Talk with your loved one to understand their goals for treatment.
- Discuss treatment options with doctors.
- Research conditions by speaking with doctors, nurses and pharmacists
- Create a care plan after hospital stays. Will new medications and procedures need to be managed at home?
Support Groups
The Family Caregiver Alliance has partnered with Smart Patients to offer caregivers of loved ones a community for free to share, interact, and learn from each other in a safe, supportive environment. To learn more and join the community, visit the Smart Patients website. For assistance with navigating elder care, employees can use the Wellbeing Hotline for
