Caregivers play a vital role in helping loved ones maintain their health, dignity and independence. And while their work is deeply meaningful, it often comes with emotional, physical and mental strain.
Many family caregivers set their own needs aside day after day — sometimes without even realizing the toll it takes. That’s why United Way Area Agency on Aging’s (UWAAA) Alabama Cares program exists: to stand alongside them and provide support as well as respite.
This year, the program partnered with United Ability’s show choir for its National Family Caregivers Month Celebration to bring an added layer of inspiration to that support.
Why the United Ability Choir?
United Ability is a longtime United Way partner agency that provides innovative services that help individuals with disabilities thrive and participate fully in community life. The choir is one expression of that mission. With each performance, members, who represent a wide range of abilities and experiences, demonstrate their resilience and connection. These are personal qualities that caregivers must draw on themselves every day.
“When planning for National Family Caregivers Month, I immediately thought of the United Ability Choir,” said Alabama Cares Specialist Marie Huntley. “They embody perseverance and joy, and I knew their performance would encourage caregivers to keep going through their own challenges.”
Marie also hoped the performance would encourage caregivers to pause and appreciate the small, often unnoticed victories in their daily routines.
Understanding Caregivers’ Challenges
Through her work with Alabama Cares, Marie sees firsthand the pressures caregivers face. The challenge she hears most often is one that many caregivers don’t recognize until they’re overwhelmed: caring for themselves.
“Oftentimes, many caregivers are so focused on their loved one that they forget how to care for their own well-being,” she said.
From skipping medical appointments to rushing through errands to feeling increasingly isolated, caregivers often sacrifice their own health in service to others. It’s a pattern that programs and partners such as Alabama Cares and United Ability work to change.
How Alabama Cares Supports Caregivers
“The Alabama Cares program provides support by bringing awareness to self-care, wellness and community,” Marie said. “It helps caregivers realize that if they do not care for themselves, they cannot fully support their loved ones.”
Support for family caregivers through the program includes:
- Information on community resources.
- Caregiver support groups.
- Short-term assistance and guidance.
- Respite services for temporary relief.
- Training and certain supplemental support.
By creating space for rest, recognition and encouragement, Alabama Cares offers caregivers acknowledgment of their own needs – something they rarely otherwise receive.
A Celebration of Strength
Through Alabama Cares and the partnership of agencies such as United Ability, the United Way Area Agency on Aging is strongly committed to supporting family caregivers across Central Alabama, ensuring they have the tools, encouragement and community they need to continue their vital work.
To learn more about United Way Area Agency on Aging’s services, click here or call 1-800-AGE-LINE.