AARP Tampa Bay Honors Bradenton Family Caregiver

ST. PETERSBURG, FLA. – November marks National Family Caregivers Month, a time to recognize the 40 million Americans – including more than 2.7 million from Florida – who help older parents, spouses, and other loved ones live independently at home, where they want to be.

As part of this effort, AARP is recognizing Linda, a Bradenton caregiver who cares for her husband, Larry, by commissioning an original portrait.

Linda, age 71, is a mother of three, a marathon runner, and has a law degree. For the past eight years, she has cared full time for Larry, her husband of 48 years, who has dementia and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD).

“The adjustment of going from a reciprocal relationship to 100 percent caregiver was the first challenge to conquer. No one will ever be able to care for my husband like I can.”

AARP has commissioned original paintings by recognized artists of one caregiver from every state, the District of Columbia, the Virgin Islands and Puerto Rico.

The caregivers honored in the Portraits of Care initiative were selected from among the thousands of caregivers who have submitted stories to AARP’s IHeartCaregivers.org website.

AARP believes the stories of family caregivers like Linda’s aren’t celebrated nearly enough. Because of their tireless efforts, older parents, spouses, and other loved are able to live independently at home and in the community – where they want to be.

“It’s a labor of love for sure, and often more than a full-time job,” said Jeff Johnson, AARP’s Florida state director. “AARP Florida is fighting for these caregivers on many issues day after day.”

Linda is one of more than 2.7 million family caregivers across Florida. Together they provide nearly $30 billion a year worth of unpaid care each year, helping their loved ones with everything from:

• Bathing and dressing
• Cooking meals
• Transportation
• Finances
• Complex medical tasks, like wound care and injections, and more.

That’s why AARP is spotlighting their experiences of hope, love, dedication and perseverance through our storytelling initiative, I Heart Caregivers. In honor of National Family Caregivers Month, this November, we randomly selected 53 of these unsung heroes, one from every state as well as Washington, D.C., Puerto Rico, and the U.S. Virgin Islands – including Linda – to receive Portraits of Care, original paintings of each family caregiver and his or her loved one, from photos submitted through I Heart Caregivers.

At AARP, we know family caregiving can be a big job. That’s why we’re fighting for more support – and commonsense solutions – to make big responsibilities a little bit easier.

In 2015, we fought for important reforms of the state’s guardianship laws, to help give families and guardians’ wards important rights and protections.

We fought for more respite care that allows family caregivers to take a well-earned break from time to time – essential to help them continue to provide care for loved ones.

And we aren’t stopping there. As the 2016 state legislative session approaches, we’re gearing up to work:

• for “respite care” that allows family caregivers to take a well-earned break.
• to make sure caregivers have access to the right resources in the community, like home care and adult day programs.
• to make it easier for doctors and nurses to help support family caregivers through the power of “tele-health” technology, without having to leave home.

If you’re a family caregiver, you’re not alone.

• For tools and resources, visit aarp.org/caregiving
• To share your story and connect with others, visit aarp.org/iheartcaregivers
• To find out more about how AARP is fighting for you, check out aarp.org/SupportCaregivers