National Family Caregivers Month
As a world leader in pediatric cancer research and treatment, we at St. Jude know just how important the role of being a caregiver really is. National Family Caregiver's Month is celebrated every November. Learn more about National Family Caregivers Month and what you can do to honor the caregivers in your life.
St. Jude patient Eri'Elle with her mom and grandmother
What is a family caregiver?
A family caregiver is any individual who provides care for another family member or loved one who has a condition, injury, disease, disability or is otherwise in need of consistent care. Family caregivers provide emotional, physical and sometimes even psychological support for those in their care and play a critical role in the lives of those they care for.
The support provided by family caregivers is often crucial for the healing and well-being of those in their care. This can be an incredibly complex and demanding role to fulfill, which only highlights how vitally important it is.
History of National Family Caregivers Month
National Family Caregivers Month was first created and advocated for by The National Family Caregivers Association (also known as Caregiver Action Network or CAN) in 1994. Just three years later, President Bill Clinton signed the “National Family Caregivers Week Presidential Proclamation,” making it a national call of recognition. Since 1997, each president has signed similar proclamations to recognize the month and its mission.
How to celebrate a family caregiver during National Family Caregivers Month
There are endless options to consider when it comes to honoring or celebrating a family caregiver. We’ve included a few examples to inspire you:
- Host a party or get-together in honor of the caregiver.
- If possible, offer the caregiver a day off where you take on their caregiving responsibilities.
- Send messages of support or thank-you letters to the caregiver regularly, reminding them how much they are valued.
- Treat them to a movie or dinner night out.
- Volunteer to support the caregiver with their responsibilities if possible.
The role of family caregivers when it comes to pediatric cancer
In the case of pediatric cancer, the caregiver’s role is never-ending. Caregivers handling childhood cancer often need to provide the children with additional emotional, financial, medical, spiritual and physical support, alongside the care children with no additional circumstances to overcome already need to develop.
At St. Jude, we strive to provide families experiencing childhood cancer with extensive resources, support and a place of respite, so that they can focus on their child.
Why support St. Jude kids?
Families never receive a bill for treatment, travel, housing or food — so they can focus on helping their child live.
When St. Jude opened in 1962, childhood cancer was considered incurable. Since then, St. Jude has helped push the overall survival rate from 20% to more than 80%, and we won't stop until no child dies from cancer.
Every child deserves a chance to live their best life and celebrate every moment. When you support St. Jude, you help give kids with cancer around the world that chance. Together, we can save more lives.
St. Jude patient Kenadie
Fundraising helps support patients like Kenadie
In early 2023, Kenadie, who was 5 years old, began telling her mother that she felt pain in her legs. At first, doctors said that it was likely growing pains. Her mother, Felicia, felt it was something more.
Felicia took her daughter to an emergency room in Tennessee. Doctors diagnosed Kenadie with acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL), a cancer that affects the white blood cells. Kenadie was referred to St. Jude.
Felicia said she had seen the St. Jude commercials on television and felt reassured after speaking to doctors about the treatment plan. Kenadie is currently receiving treatment, which includes chemotherapy.
Felicia said her daughter’s leg pain is gone, and she is walking again. Kenadie wants to be a doctor when she grows up, a career choice, her mom said, that came after she started treatment at St. Jude.
Honor the caregiver in your life by supporting St. Jude
With your support, we can continue to provide children with cutting-edge treatments not covered by insurance, at no cost to families. Unlike other hospitals, the majority of funding for St. Jude comes from our generous donors. When you become a monthly donor (also known as a Partner In Hope) or donate in honor of someone, you help provide the stable and predictable revenue needed to continue our lifesaving work. Join us and be part of our mission to save more lives.
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