Caregivers in Missouri

According to the AARP and the National Alliance for Family Caregiving, families are often the primary source of support for older adults and people with disabilities. In fact, today in America, more than 53 million family caregivers provide unpaid care. That's an economic value totaling more than $600 billion. Caregivers, especially those providing informal (unpaid) care to family and loved ones, are vitally important yet they are often not recognized or celebrated nearly enough.

Caregivers give many kinds of support including:

• Personal: Bathing, personal hygiene, dressing and toileting, getting in and out of bed or a chair, and meal preparation and feeding
• Medical: organization and giving medications, managing and attending appointments, maintaining medical records and information, managing therapies and treatments, arranging nursing and other medical supports, and performing basic medical needs
• Other life management tasks: shopping for food, clothing and other essentials, providing transportation or organizing transportation, managing families and paying bills, and housekeeping and home maintenance

Recognizing Missouri’s Unpaid Caregivers

Do you know someone who puts their life on hold to care for an ill family member or friend? If so, the Department of Health and Senior Services invites you to nominate these unsung heroes to be recognized. Throughout the year the Department will post inspirational stories of these selfless caregivers.

If you would like to nominate someone, please contact us at DSDSOfficeOfConstituentServices@health.mo.gov.