November is Family Caregiver Month, and I think it’s important to take a moment to think about this. Of course, we’re all caregivers in some capacity – we care for our children, spouses and even pets on an everyday basis. So in truth, Family Caregiver Month is about the caregiving that occurs above and beyond normal.
I “got to” experience caregiving above and beyond normal this Fall while taking care of a family member who had a knee replacement surgery. Yikes. And I have resources. But here’s the thing: I know my life and that of my family member will eventually return to normal (maybe even better than normal since everyday knee pain had become normal). But returning to normal is certainly not the case for the estimated 65 million Americans who take care of loved ones who have chronic illness, special needs or debilitating injuries.
I get regular updates on caregiver support from the Alzheimer’s Association, and their resources are excellent. I’ve witnessed the support offered locally by the excellent folks at the Alzheimer’s Network of Oregon – I can’t say enough about what a dedicated group of people they are. However, not everyone is taking care of a patient with Alzheimer’s disease. This is where the Caregiver Action Network (CAN) comes in. CAN aims to improve the quality of life for caretakers from all walks of life who are managing chronic conditions, disabilities, or disease.
One of the things I like about working at the Clinical Research Center is that we provide one-on-one support for our patients and their families. Whether the clinical study is for diabetes, Alzheimer’s disease, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, asthma, psoriasis, etc., the Clinical Research Center is there to listen and go the extra mile to assure the best health outcome for our patients.
If you are interested in learning more about our clinical studies contact the Clinical Research Center at 541-766-2163 or send an email to research@corvallisclinic.com. Or, follow us on Facebook at https://www.facebook.com/corvallisclinicresearch.
– Julie Carrico is Associate Coordinator of The Corvallis Clinic Clinical Research Center
