Labor Day or a Labor of Love?
On Monday, we celebrate the contributions and achievements of the American worker. Designated a federal holiday in 1894 to be recognized on the first Monday of September, Labor Day was created to honor the American labor movement. By taking a day of rest, Labor Day honors and pays tribute to the women and men and their efforts in building a strong and prosperous nation.
We tend to think of the workers who leave their homes and commute to factories, hospitals, offices, and other places of employment. However, there is another group of hard-working and dedicated men and women who do not leave the house (sometimes to the point of isolation), and whose unpaid work often goes unnoticed. This valuable workforce of 63 million, or one in four Americans, truly gives a labor of love: the family caregiver.
So, take a moment and give a salute to the millions of sons, daughters, mothers, spouses, family members, and friends who support adults ages 65 and older—over half of whom are living with dementia or Alzheimer’s disease. And although I don’t see parents of children with disabilities as traditional “caregivers,” I raise my hat to recognize the extra challenges parents and families face when raising a child with a disability under the age of 18, or when continuing to provide support to adults 18 and older with a chronic condition or disability.
Some will argue that these “workers” are providing care for a loved one as a responsibility of being a family. But when you look at the sacrifices these family members make, they clearly have an impact on the strength and prosperity of our great country. In fact, 45% of caregivers have outside jobs, 33% neglect their own personal care and well-being, and 80% pay for the expenses associated with that care. These family caregivers are the backbone of our long-term healthcare system.
So, let’s raise a toast and send a special thanks to all the families providing care and support, making a difference in the life of a loved one every single day of the year. Taking off work on Monday is not an option for millions of Americans.
For information on our Memory Ministry, Memory Cafe, or Friends and Family Workshops, please contact Vicky at vpitner@firstumc.org.