Arosa urges families to do more than say thanks to caregivers

Arosa is using National Family Caregivers Month in November to push for practical support for the 63 million Americans providing care. The message: share the load, give caregivers time to rest, and treat burnout risk as a family issue, not a personal failure.

Why it matters: - An estimated 63 million Americans provided ongoing care to an adult or child with a complex medical condition or disability in the past year, according to AARP and the National Alliance for Caregiving. - Nearly 1 in 4 adults are doing unpaid caregiving work, and 39% of family caregivers report high emotional stress. - Arosa says recognition alone is not enough when caregiving demands can quietly expand into medical coordination, overnight needs and difficult health decisions.

What happened: - Arosa, a national leader in integrated care management and home care, is marking National Family Caregivers Month in November with a call for families and communities to give caregivers practical support. - The Durham, North Carolina-based company urged people to move beyond gratitude and help share daily caregiving responsibilities. - Jennifer Gazda, DSW, LCSW, Arosa’s director of care management and home care services, said caregiving often grows gradually until a family member is carrying far more than groceries and errands.

The details: - Arosa’s suggested support includes taking over a meal, an errand or a few hours of companionship so the caregiver can rest or handle personal needs. - The company also recommends helping schedule appointments, keeping relatives informed and researching services instead of leaving one person to coordinate everything. - Arosa advises families to ask caregivers what feels hardest right now and listen without judgment. - The company says families should discuss whether extra home support or care coordination could make the situation more manageable. - The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention encourage caregivers to seek support, set reasonable expectations and pay attention to their own physical and emotional health. - Gazda said caregiving burnout is real and that families should make sure caregivers take time away to care for themselves. - Arosa offers in-home caregiving and care management services designed to help families coordinate care and support a loved one at home. - Arosa serves clients and families through more than 35 locations across the United States. - The company says its services combine personalized care, professional expertise and compassionate support to help older adults live safely and independently while improving quality of life for the family. - More information is available on Arosa’s website.

Between the lines: - The campaign frames caregiving as a shared family responsibility, not a role that one person should absorb alone. - The emphasis on practical help reflects a broader problem: many caregivers need relief, planning support and time away more than words of appreciation. - Arosa is also positioning its care management and home care services as one possible answer for families under strain.

What's next: - Families and communities are being asked to use National Family Caregivers Month to check in on caregivers and offer concrete help. - The message points toward earlier support, before stress becomes burnout or a crisis forces a bigger change in care.