Reported by: Kirk Matthews
Email: kmatthews@khon2.com
Last Update: 9/03 6:26 pm
There are thousands of family caregivers in Hawaii and at one time or another, they felt overwhelmed. Now on the scene, the Caregiver Foundation of America.
"The foundation's primary purpose is working with people to establish caregiver support groups. Caregivers are a unique breed working with people whom they love,” said Gary Powell.
Caregivers are invited to support group meetings usually about once a month. They can share challenges and solutions to common problems. Powell says it's encouraging for them to find out there are other people in a similar situation. And he says the problems that present themselves are not limited to those who provide direct care to their loved ones.
"But caregivers even if they're on the mainland or their loved ones are on the mainland, and they are long distance caregivers, they have the same stress, the same fears and anxieties that build up,” said Powell.
Caregivers in Hawaii save the state billions of dollars every year.
But there can be a negative impact when the caregiver is not given proper support or consideration.
"Caregiving affects every part of society. When an employee has caregiving concerns, their ability to perform well on the job goes down. So that ultimately impacts the profitability of a company, which impacts society at large,” he said.
The caregiver foundation is a relatively new institution - but Powell said interest is growing.
And he has ambitious plans.
"Hopefully we'll have twelve new caregiver support groups established by the end of next year. And then we hope to expand to the neighbor islands and begin forming chapters in all of the states,” he said.