North Carolina Communities Unite to Honor Family Caregivers

Every community sees the impact firsthand. Family caregivers help older adults, veterans, people with disabilities, and individuals with chronic illnesses. They provide transportation to medical appointments, prepare meals, manage medications, assist with bathing and dressing, and often coordinate complex medical care. More than half of North Carolina caregivers perform medical or nursing-related tasks, while nearly six in ten balance caregiving with paid employment. 

Mayor of Brevard, NC, Nancy Copelof, one city that issued a proclamation said, “The City of Brevard is proud to recognize the critical role family caregivers play in our community.  They represent the best of us.... people who are willing to step up and help others in need...people willing to give their time, energy and heartfelt commitment to help family members remain within a caring family environment. Our community would have an extremely hard time trying to provide these services without them.  Our family caregivers deserve our recognition, support and admiration for the incredible role they play in our community.”

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Local leaders like Mayor Copelof also recognize the challenges caregivers face. Over 54% of North Carolina caregivers report experiencing financial hardship due to caregiving responsibilities, including depleted savings, increased debt, or unpaid bills. More than one-quarter spend 40 hours or more each week providing care. 

For many caregivers, the act of love is something that they are happy to do, but it can be tiresome, and stressful both on the body and on personal finances. Venessa Snellings, a 67-year-old in Raleigh who is caring for her 69 year old disabled husband said, “I am very active in the community and often have to travel for conferences which presents some challenges. Being a full-time caregiver often means you neglect your own health and you need to be 100 percent there to take on the responsibilities of caregiving.”

These resolutions reflect another important reality: North Carolina is aging. As the population of older adults grows, the need for family caregivers continues to increase. Without their unpaid support, many individuals would require more expensive institutional care, placing greater strain on families, health systems, and taxpayers. 

By passing caregiver recognition resolutions, these North Carolina communities are doing more than offering thanks. They are shining a spotlight on millions of acts of compassion that often happen behind closed doors.

Their message is clear: family caregivers are essential partners in health care, vital contributors to local economies, and the backbone of support for countless families. Through these resolutions, North Carolina communities have affirmed that caregivers deserve not only recognition, but also meaningful support and appreciation for the invaluable role they play every day.

Throughout November, AARP is hosting a variety of in-person and virtual events to help support family caregivers. Find these events and more at www.aarp.org/local