Homewatch CareGivers Launches First-Ever Program to Educate Male Family Caregivers

GREENWOOD VILLAGE, Colo.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Homewatch CareGivers, the premier provider of full-service home care, has announced the launch of the first nationwide program designed to meet the emotional, social and educational needs of men who provide care for their loved ones.

“As a company whose mission is to provide care not only to seniors and those with disabilities, but also to their family caregivers, it’s critical we address the unique needs of husbands, sons and brothers who are performing this role”

For the first time, sons, husbands and brothers — who will soon comprise half of all American family caregivers — will have access to educational resources, experts and communities that are specifically designed to help this population provide better care for loved ones at home.

“Over the past several years, our offices throughout the country have seen a tremendous growth in the number of men suddenly finding themselves in the position of caring for their elderly parents, wives and other family member,” said Leann Reynolds, president of Homewatch CareGivers. “For the vast majority of these men, this is the first time they have had to face the many stresses and complexities of caring for a homebound loved one.”

As part of the program’s launch, Homewatch CareGivers created the Male Caregiver Community, the first — and only — online resource geared specifically towards male family caregivers. The forum gives these caregivers an opportunity to meet other men in similar situations, seek advice, share their experiences and provide peer support.

In addition, the program includes training for all of Homewatch CareGivers’ franchisees and staff to address the special needs of male family caregivers.

“Finding other men going through similar situations is critical to managing the emotional toll of caregiving,” said Reynolds. “Men have an especially tough time finding peer groups in which they can share their experiences as caregivers.”

Increases in geographic mobility, the rise in two-career households, economic recession, as well as changes in traditional family structures and gender roles are all contributing factors in the rise of men as primary family caregivers.

According to the Pew Research Center’s Internet & American Life Project, male caregivers today comprise 45% of all family caregivers in the nation. Over the past 15 years, the number of men caring for those living with dementia has more than doubled, based on numbers provided by the Alzheimer’s Association.

“As a company whose mission is to provide care not only to seniors and those with disabilities, but also to their family caregivers, it’s critical we address the unique needs of husbands, sons and brothers who are performing this role,” said Reynolds. “Many of these men are taking on caregiving responsibilities for the first time in their lives, and as such are in tremendous need of information, emotional guidance and social support.”

In developing the program, Homewatch CareGivers home care professionals around the country discovered that men take different approaches to active caregiving than their female counterparts. For instance, men are likely to call for outside support the moment there’s a trigger event, such as a fall or hospital discharge. Women, on the other hand, are more likely to delay calling for professional care until they experience caregiver burnout. However, all caregivers found that a strong support system helped them make better decisions and manage their stress. Women have long had such social networks, while men often feel more socially isolated and don’t receive the same level of support from family members and community services.

For more information, please see the Homewatch CareGivers media kit.

About Homewatch CareGivers

Founded in 1980, Homewatch CareGivers is the most experienced international network of providers of full-service home care for people of all ages. Caregivers are triple-screened and continually trained and supervised to provide reliable, compassionate and highly skilled services in companion, personal and comprehensive care. Home care services are personalized for each client and customized care plans are administered through an international network of 212 locations. The exclusive Pathways to Memory™ program provides specialized care for individuals living with dementia and Alzheimer's Disease.

For more information, please visit www.homewatchcaregivers.com.