Florence Kariuki RN MHA FHELA, C.E.O
November is National Family Caregivers Month, and this year’s theme from the Caregiver Action Network is “Care Connects Us.” The message is simple: if you help a parent, spouse or relative get through the day, you are a caregiver, and you are far from alone.
A 2025 report from AARP and the National Alliance for Caregiving found that 63 million Americans, nearly one in four adults, provided ongoing care to a family member or friend in the past year. That is 20 million more people than in 2015. Many of them live right here in Middlesex, Monmouth, Mercer and Somerset counties.
Do You Count as a Family Caregiver?
Many people don’t think of themselves as caregivers. They’re “just helping Mom.” About 40 percent of caregivers don’t identify with the word, according to AARP, and that often means they never look for the support that’s available to them.
You are a family caregiver if you regularly do any of these for someone you love:
- Drive them to doctor’s appointments, the pharmacy or the grocery store
- Keep track of medications or refill prescriptions
- Help with bathing, dressing or getting in and out of bed
- Cook meals, do laundry or clean their home
- Pay their bills or deal with insurance paperwork
- Check in by phone every day because you worry when they don’t answer
- Manage care from a distance for a parent who lives alone
What Caregiving Really Costs Families
Caregiving is an act of love, but it has real costs. The same AARP report found that:
- Six in 10 caregivers also hold a job, and half of them have had to come in late, leave early or take time off.
- Caregivers spend about $7,200 a year of their own money on average, and nearly half have faced a major financial setback such as taking on debt or stopping savings.
- One in five caregivers rate their own health as fair or poor, and nearly one in four say caregiving makes it hard to look after themselves.
- Nearly one in four provide 40 or more hours of care a week, the equivalent of a second full-time job.
If those numbers sound familiar, it may be time to bring in help before burnout sets in. We wrote more about the warning signs in Prevent Caregiver Burnout: Home Care and Respite Services in Central NJ.
Where Central New Jersey Caregivers Can Find Help
The Caregiver Action Network reports that 78 percent of caregivers say they need more help finding services. Here are good places to start locally:
- Middlesex County Office of Aging & Disabled Services – (732) 745-3295. Runs caregiver programs and holds an annual Caregiver Conference each fall, along with caregiver retreats during the year. Call to ask about upcoming dates.
- Monmouth County Division on Aging, Disabilities & Veterans Services – (732) 431-7450. Information on in-home services, respite and resource fairs.
- Monroe Township Office of Senior Services – (609) 448-7140. Programs, transportation and a senior center for Monroe residents.
- Your county Office on Aging – New Jersey lists every county office on the Division of Aging Services website.
- NJ 211 – Dial 211 or visit nj211.org to find local services by zip code.
Professional Home Care Is Support, Not Surrender
Many families wait until they’re exhausted before calling a home care agency. But home care doesn’t have to mean round-the-clock help. Most families start small:
- A few hours, a few days a week so you can work, run errands or rest
- Respite care while you take a weekend away or recover from your own illness
- Help after a hospital or rehab stay, when needs are highest for a few weeks
- Companionship for a parent who is alone most of the day
A trained caregiver can handle bathing, dressing, meals, light housekeeping, medication reminders and rides to appointments, so the time you spend with your loved one can be time together instead of a to-do list.
Five Small Steps to Take This Month
- Say it out loud: “I’m a caregiver.” Then tell your employer, your doctor and your family.
- Write down everything you do in a week. It helps others see the load and makes it easier to hand tasks off.
- Book one appointment for yourself, whether it’s a checkup, a haircut or coffee with a friend.
- Find your loved one’s insurance papers, including any long-term care insurance policy, which may pay for home care.
- Call one resource on the list above and ask what’s available.
We’re Here for Central New Jersey Families
Eden Touch Home Care is a non-medical home care agency based in Monroe Township, serving families across Middlesex, Monmouth, Mercer and Somerset counties. If you’re caring for someone and need a break, or simply want to talk through your options, we’re glad to help with a free consultation.
Call: 732-313-2027 Email: info@edentouchhomecare.com
Sources: AARP and National Alliance for Caregiving, Caregiving in the US 2025; Caregiver Action Network, National Family Caregivers Month 2026.
