National Family Caregivers Month
According to the Caregiver Action Network:
- “Two out of every 5 adults are family caregivers. 39% of all adult Americans are caring for a loved one who is sick or disabled – up from 30% in 2010
- Alzheimer’s is driving the numbers up. More than 15 million family caregivers are providing care to more than 5 million loved ones with Alzheimer’s disease
- But it’s not just the elderly who need caregiving. The number of parents caring for children with special needs is increasing, too, due to the rise in cases of many childhood conditions
- Wounded veterans require family caregivers, too. As many as 1 million Americans are caring in their homes for service members from the Iraq and Afghanistan wars who are suffering from traumatic brain injury, post-traumatic stress disorder, or other wounds and illnesses
- And it’s not just women doing the caregiving. Men are now almost as likely to say they are family caregivers as women are (37% of men; 40% of women). And 36% of younger Americans between ages 18 and 29 are family caregivers as well, including 1 million young people who care for loved ones with Alzheimer’s
November is also Alzheimer’s Disease Awareness Month, and the Alzheimer’s Association also offers tools for caregivers. Both sites offer information, links, and resources.
American Diabetes Month
The American Diabetes Association says, that “Nearly 26 million children and adults in the United States have diabetes. Another 79 million Americans have prediabetes and are at risk for developing type 2 diabetes. The American Diabetes Association estimates that the total national cost of diagnosed diabetes in the United States is $245 billion.”
Their site offers materials that you can download and use with employees, including fact sheets, newsletter inserts, posters and PowerPoints in English and in Spanish,
Pancreatic Cancer Awareness Month
According to the Pancreatic Cancer Action Network, “Pancreatic cancer is the fourth leading cause of cancer death in the United States. Approximately 279,000 people worldwide are diagnosed with pancreatic cancer annually, and more than 266,000 die from the
disease. The five year survival rate of pancreatic cancer is just 6 percent in the United States…Pancreatic cancer can strike both men and women. Few risk factors for developing pancreatic cancer are defined. There are no early
detection methods, few effective treatment options and there is no cure.”
The links above offer support resources, advocacy, information and survivor stories.
COPD Awareness month
The National Institute of Health (NIH) says that, “Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease is the 3rd leading cause of death in the United States. The disease kills more than 120,000 Americans each year—that’s 1 death every 4 minutes—and causes serious, long-term disability. The number of people with COPD is increasing. More than 12 million people are diagnosed with COPD and an additional 12 million likely have the disease and don’t even know it.”
NIH suggests four things you can do and offers resources to help:
1. Be aware of the risk factors
2. Recognize the symptoms
3. Ask your doctor or health care provider about a simple breathing test
4. Follow treatment advice
Another good resource is the American Lung Association.
Other health observances in November
Epilepsy Awareness Month
November 6 – National Eating Healthy Day
November 14 – World Diabetes Day
November 21 – Great American Smokeout
Tobacco use remains the single largest preventable cause of disease and premature death in the US, yet about 43.8 million Americans still smoke cigarettes — nearly 1 in every 5 adults. As of 2010, there were also 13.2 million cigar smokers in the US, and 2.2 million who smoke tobacco in pipes — other dangerous and addictive forms of tobacco.
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ESI EAP offers 24-7 access to counselors and a wide variety of support resources for employees and family members who are facing difficult health challenges. We also offer wellness benefits and health risk assessments, including discounts for weight loss programs, exercise and nutrition programs, and stop smoking programs. If you want to learn more about how ESI can provide more employee EAP benefits and more employer services, call us at 800-535-4841.