November Working Caregiver campaign messages
Week 1: “Chances Are, You’ll Be a Caregiver”
Chances are that during your working life, you will be a caregiver to a relative or a friend. In Minnesota, 60% of caregivers are employed—full-time or part-time.
November is National Family Caregivers Month.
A family or informal caregiver is a spouse, other relative, partner or friend who provides unpaid care and assistance for a relative or friend with a health problem, a long-term illness or a disability. The person you care for may live with you, or not.In Minnesota, this care was valued at nearly $8 billion last year.
Read Governor Dayton’s Proclamation here:
Read the Presidential Proclamation here:
Simply search ‘SEGIP working caregiver’ to learn more.
Week 2: “Take Care to Give Care”
The first rule of taking care of others:take care of yourself first. Caregiving can be a rewarding experience, but it is also physically and emotionally demanding. The stress of dealing with caregiving responsibilities leads to a higher risk of health issues. So as a family caregiver, remember to pay attention to your own physical and mental wellness, and get proper rest and nutrition. Only by taking care of yourself can you be strong enough to take care of your loved one.
November is National Family Caregivers Month. To read more about taking care to give care, read the full Caregiver Action Network article:
Simply search ‘SEGIP working caregiver’ to learn more.
Week 3:“Benefits for State Employees Who are Caregiving”
Achieving work-life balance is a cooperative effort between an employee and his or her employer. You have employee benefits to support you. Just two examples are
- Sick leave that can be used to care for relatives, and
- LifeMatters Employee Assistance Program with coaches to support you emotionally and information to help you make decisions. (The Lifematters phone number is on the back of your health insurance card, or go to: password: stmn1.)
Work with your supervisor or human resource office to learn more.
Happy National Family Caregivers Month!
Simply search ‘SEGIP working caregiver’ to learn more.
Week 4: “Community Resources for Working Caregivers”
November is National Family Caregivers Month.
There are great resources in your community to support you in your caregiving role. Here are a few examples.
- The Senior LinkAge Line: 800-333-2433
- Minnesota Board on Aging:
- AARP’s Caregiving Resource Center:
You can find a more complete list on the State Employee Group Insurance Program (SEGIP) website. Simply search ‘SEGIP working caregiver’ to get there.