In 2016, my husband was diagnosed with Alzheimer’s Disease. That year and diagnosis started our caregiving journey, and that journey proves to be fraught with challenges and setbacks.
My family is not the only one on this journey – just over 1 million Coloradans provide care to a family member or friend with a complex medical condition or disability. One in five people in this state are caregivers.
I want to emphasize that I have worked in the community for more than 25 years, and even with the knowledge I have, it is difficult to find services, support, and a team to help make the journey just a little bit easier, let alone possible. Even more difficult than that is finding resources and services that are oriented to Spanish-speaking households, patients, and caregivers.
According to a recent report from AARP and the National Alliance for Caregiving, 20 percent of Colorado’s caregivers identify as Hispanic or Latino. A second AARP survey found that about one third of respondents are in need of culturally competent care and services.
Combine all these factors and add the intensity of caring for someone with a complex medical condition, and you have a caregiving environment that is incredibly stressful.
That stress is compounded by world events outside of our control. For instance, social isolation from the pandemic resulted in my husband losing the ability to drive. He completely depends on me for his care, and finding a team that can help provide him with the best health care has not been easy. I also have multiple firsthand experiences trying to find care for my husband after he was physically abused in more than one facility.
Providing care for a family member can be isolating in and of itself, as people closest to you fade into the background. Ultimately, my daughters and I carry the emotional and financial weight of my husband’s needs. Nearly 40 percent of Coloradan family caregivers report receiving no help.
So, what is my call to action? What do caregivers need to meet the needs of the people they care for? What do the caregivers themselves need to thrive?
Reach out to a friend or family member who is a caregiver. Ask them what could make their day or week better. Be a community ambassador and let them know they are cared for. Support state and federal legislation that eases the financial burden of caregiving.
Many of your friends and neighbors are on similar caregiving journeys. This National Family Caregivers Month, know that you are not alone.
Visit https://states.aarp.org/colorado/caregiver-rescources for a helpful guide (in English and Spanish) to the state’s caregiving resources.
Maria Soto is a Professional Educator and Cultural Navigator living in Denver, Colorado. She loves to travel and spend time with family. She is a parent of two daughters and a grandparent of a granddaughter and a grandson. She has lived in Colorado since 1991.
Source: Maria Soto/AARP
