May 24, 2004, Washington, DC — The National Family Caregivers Association (NFCA), and the National Alliance for Caregiving (Alliance), both headquartered in the Washington, DC area, have begun production of a national public education program in conjunction with Eisai Inc. to help family caregivers realize and acknowledge their caregiver role and its impact on their lives. While one out of five Americans provide care daily for a sick or aging family member over the age of 18, most do not view themselves as caregivers.
Self-identification and the importance of seeking help will be the focus of a campaign to launch August 2004 titled, FAMILY CAREGIVING
its not all up to you. The relationship between caregivers feeling better and doing better will be supported with tools to help them reclaim control of their personal time, while simultaneously becoming more capable, confident caregivers. The multi-media outreach program is being made possible through the generosity of Eisai Inc., with whom the NFCA and the Alliance partnered in the past to create and distribute Caring to Help Others: A Training Manual for Preparing Volunteers to Assist Caregivers of Older Adults.
According to Lonnel Coats, President & COO, Eisai Inc., It is clear to Eisai that caregivers need help
not just now, but in generations to come. Family caregivers will benefit from the knowledge that asking for help is a good thing to do not only for themselves, but especially for their loved ones. Eisai is proud to enable this outstanding, innovative public information campaign as an extension of our existing program directed to volunteer caregivers, as well as our human health care mission to increase benefits to patients and their families, said Coats.
Based on formal research conducted by NFCA and the Alliance, and funded by Retirement Research Foundation, the program strategy will address the fact that caregiving in the 21st century is not only a personal issue, but also a larger public education one as well. According to research results ,
given the huge amount of materials that have been written for family caregivers, there is a paucity of information that strives to help them become self aware, to self identify and develop a feeling of empowerment.
Creative messages that resonated best among family caregiver respondents suggested that that they were not alone, but rather part of a nationwide community, that they might be overlooking resources, and that getting help could well be in the best interest of their loved ones. Therefore, public service messages will (a) provide reassurance that its okay for caregivers to feel the way they do; (b) provide new ideas about ways to seek help; and (c) reinforce that its in the best interest of their loved ones to seek that help.
An overriding theme of Ask for Help will be delivered in nationwide print public service announcements. Respondents will be directed to the informational website, www.familycaregiving101.org. Now under development, the staged, multi-level online source will insure that busy caregivers get comprehensive help quickly, easily and at the level of detail they desire.
Eisai Inc. is a US pharmaceutical subsidiary of Tokyo-based Eisai Co., Ltd., a research-based human health care company that discovers, develops and markets products in more than 30 countries. Established in 1995, Eisai Inc. began marketing its first product in the United States in 1997 and has rapidly grown to become an integrated pharmaceutical business. Drawing on the R&D strengths of its global parent company, Eisai focuses its efforts in four therapeutic areas: neurology, gastrointestinal disorders, oncology and acute care. For more information, visit www.eisai.com
The National Family Caregivers Association, (NFCA) is a grassroots organization created to educate, support, empower and speak up for family caregivers. NFCA reaches across the boundaries of age, relationship, and diagnosis to address the common needs and concerns of all family caregivers. NFCA espouses a philosophy of self-advocacy and self-care that is predicated on the belief that caregivers who choose to take charge of their lives, and who view caregiving as but one of its facets, are in a position to be happier and healthier individuals. For more information call 1-800-896-3650, or visit info@nfcacares.org.
Established in 1996, the National Alliance for Caregiving (Alliance) is a nonprofit coalition of nearly 40 national organizations that focuses on issues of family caregiving across the age span. The Alliance was created to conduct research, do policy analysis, develop national programs for caregivers, and increase public awareness of caregiving issues. The Alliances founding partners were AARP, the American Society on Aging, the Department of Veterans Affairs, NCOA and n4a. For more information, visit www.caregiving.org.
Self Awareness In Family Caregiving; A Report on the Communication Environment; www.caregiving.org; February 2002
