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Estimates show about 43.5 million caregivers have provided unpaid services to an adult or child in the past year, and Mount Airy Mayor Jon Cawley described the local reality during an October council meeting.
Chances are if you are not a family caregiver right now, you have been, you may be at some point, or you know someone who is, or you will someday need a family caregiver yourself to help you live independently at home, Cawley said at the session, where he read a city proclamation highlighting November as National Family Caregivers Month. North Carolina has 2.1 million family caregivers, and applying a state average to that involvement shows that 14,000-plus Surry County residents are looking after older parents, children with medical needs or spouses.
The proclamation says family caregivers are the backbone of North Carolina's long-term care system, providing 1.79 billion hours of care worth $33 billion annually, and notes the role takes a toll as caregivers balance physical, emotional, financial and often time-consuming demands. Recognition has special significance in Mount Airy, which in 2020 was chosen to participate in the AARP Network of Age-Friendly States and Communities. Surry County Health and Nutrition Center also marked the month, advising caregivers to take breaks, ask for help, stay connected with healthcare providers and accept support from family, friends and community resources.
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