Long-term Care Awareness Month takes place every November. It’s a way to bring attention to the 70% of men and women over the age of 65 that will need some type of long-term care.
Now, more than ever, recognizing this month is vital. In light of the COVID-19 pandemic, long-term care has looked different this year. People have been kept from their loved ones. Isolation has increased, and worries about the mental health effects of the virus are on the rise.
So, what can you do to celebrate Long-Term Care Awareness Month, and how can you pay more attention to the people you know who might be receiving this kind of care?
Sharing the Awareness
One of the easiest ways to celebrate the month is to share information about it as often as possible. By using the hashtag #LongtermCareAwarenessMonth on social media, you’ll grab the attention of your followers. You can then provide essential and educational information that can bring some of the factors of long-term care to light.
Those factors might include how many people need long-term care and the reasons why. They should also include how long-term care can be incredibly costly and that insurance doesn’t always cover the cost of everything people need.
That is one of the biggest reasons why this month started in the first place. Because there is such a need for long-term care in this country, many people believe there should be financial assistance for those who can’t afford such care.
Making a Plan for Yourself
Another way you can celebrate Long-Term Care Awareness Month is by making yourself more aware.
That might sound strange at first, but have you ever thought about what might happen if you need some care in the future?
Will you be able to afford it? Will you have to leave your home or stay with a family member?
No matter how old you are, it’s never a bad time to make a plan for yourself and your future. Doing so now will help you to feel more financially and emotionally-prepared, no matter what happens. Talk to your family about your plan and make sure they’re on board with what you plan to do if the need arises.
Preparing yourself is a great way to lessen the burden for yourself and those around you in the future. Everyone will know what you want and expect, and there will be no confusion when it comes to meeting your needs.
Talking to Your Loved Ones
With the holidays quickly approaching, now is the perfect time to discuss long-term care options with anyone in your family who might be needing it in the future. It’s not easy to talk about, but it can be necessary to avoid issues down the road.
Talking about long-term care with your loved ones is crucial if someone has an underlying condition or has been diagnosed with an illness. In these cases, something like counseling for cancer patients and their loved ones can be beneficial. Getting to the root of your feelings and emotions is an excellent place to start before you jump into the discussion about long-term care.
So, don’t be afraid to bring awareness to the people in long-term care, the heroes that work in that industry, and the expense that it can bring to families all over the country. The more attention this topic gets, the more positive changes can happen in the future.
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If you want to learn more about long-term care or how to cope with a loved one who might need it, feel free to contact me for more information or visit my page about Counseling for Cancer Patients and Their Loved Ones.