AARP Eye Center
We have adjusted our lives to accommodate taking care of Annie. I combine my workouts with Annie time. On one hand, the adjustments we have made have limited our opportunities. On the other hand, we're all learning to make the best out of any situation. Annie is my mother-in-law. Did I say I love my 'Annie Grannie?'"
~ Gary, a family caregiver from Massachusetts
Gary is determined to keep Annie, his mother-in-law, at home, where she wants to be, and out of costly institutional care.
Gary isn’t alone. Approximately 844,000 Bay State residents perform a labor of love every day caring for older parents, spouses, and other loved ones. Each year, they spend 786 million caregiving hours helping with bathing and dressing, meals, chores, transportation and more – like complex medical tasks including wound care, giving injections, and complicated medication management. This unpaid care is valued at about $11.6 million a year. But we know this care is invaluable.
AARP believes family caregiver stories aren’t celebrated nearly enough.
As we fight for commonsense solutions to support family caregivers – like help at home, workplace flexibility, training and more – we think it’s time the world got a better picture of just what it means to be you.
To honor and recognize family caregivers all around the country, AARP will randomly select one caregiver from each of the 53 U.S. states and territories to receive a Portrait of Care, an artist’s painting of you and your loved one.
Share your story and photo with us at aarp.org/iheartcaregivers
Watch to learn more about Portraits of Care:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bpEiZC4McbE&list=PLErIJrtiGWSzApcdW0WyMv2oJu2G3JrVB&index=340[/youtube]
If you are a family caregiver, you’re not alone.
- Find the tools and support you need, as well as ways to connect with other caregivers at org/caregiving.
- See the stories behind Portraits of Care, and share your own story and photo with us at org/iheartcaregivers.
About AARP States
AARP is active in all 50 states and Washington, DC, Puerto Rico and the U.S. Virgin Islands. Connect with AARP in your state.