Who is a Family Caregiver?

(Including Our “Mission Statement”)
By Chef/Director Jason Seidler, M.S., B.A. & Josh Tyndal

The term "Family Caregiver" is used to describe “informal” (or unpaid) caregivers who are relatives, neighbors, partners, and friends of seniors and CARE for children & adults with disabilities as well as seniors in the twilight of their lives. Today, many seniors and disabled adults who need long-term care can remain in their homes and maintain their independence ONLY because of the assistance they receive from these caregivers.

“Caregiving” may be one of the most important roles you will undertake in your lifetime.

It’s typically neither an easy role, nor one to take lightly; nor is it one which most of us are even nearly prepared for.  As a caregiver you may have questions about how to cope with your care recipient's illness or disability.  If you have a job and are juggling several responsibilities (including a busy kitchen for a chef or a busy table field for a waiter/waitress), or if your family member or friend needs a great deal of assistance, you may also need additional help with caregiving ("or a better sous chef" lol).

Unfortunately, THAT'S NOT FUNNY! (Well...kinda)

Whether you are expecting to become a caregiver or have been thrust into the role overnight, it is indeed useful to know where you can get information and help. Many family caregivers, particularly people who provide around-the-clock care, often face emotional, physical, and financial problems. Without help and support, these problems can worsen and the caregiver's own health may suffer. I'm not kidding.

When caregivers take care of themselves, they can do a better job of taking care of their loved ones.  Even though very limited help is available for family caregivers, including grandparents who care for grandchildren, we here at Caregiverhelp.org^TM seeks to:

1) Raise AWARENESS, UNDERSTANDING, and SUPPORT for the 54+ million American families involved in caregiving for the ill, the disabled, and the elderly.

2) Enhance their knowledge of "What is known" as well as "What is needed to be known" regarding caregiving.

3) Enhance the caregiver's "quality of life" as well as enhancing the caregiver recipient's "quality of care".

4) To HELP each & every caregiver that would need our informational help that we can provide regardless of race, religion, gender, disability, sexual orientation, or national origin.

5) Despite the fact our executive directors are neither attorneys nor CPAs; we shall endeavor to provide information and tips from these sources to be of additional aid to our nation’s caregivers.
 
6) Although we do have some formal collegiate training in the culinary arts, we really could use the expert help from the special TV chefs and the Television Food Network to help us assist the 30+MILLION "forgotten American diners", we (“The Company”) shall endeavor to provide food tips, kitchen tips, and recipes to help the “30+ million “forgotten American diners” that have chewing and swallowing disorders…we’ll have other recipes for everyone, too! (We like to cook, and we like to eat).

7) Acquire a ‘definitive list’ of food, beverages, and services that can be brought to both the caregiver and the caregiver-recipient (i.e. ‘Home delivery’ besides pizza).  I know I couldn’t get out much while caregiving, and I think it would be important as well as helpful.

“I believe that unarmed truth and unconditional love will have the final word in reality.  That is why right, temporarily defeated, is stronger than evil triumphant.”  Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.