Video: Humana cares!

If you're caring for a sick or disabled family member or friend, you know firsthand that being a caregiver is a challenging and overwhelming role. And, while you may feel alone in coping with these challenges, you're in good company. In the United States today, there are 52 million caregivers.

Recognizing the critical role that caregivers play, Humana has developed several programs to support caregivers, including its new Points of Caregiving resource.

What Exactly Is Caregiving?

You may have heard about "caregiving" and "caregivers" in the media lately.  With everything you do to help someone who depends on you, you may even be wondering "Am I a caregiver?"

If taking care of someone frail or disabled sounds like something you can relate to, you are probably a caregiver.  And you are not alone.  You are one of over 44.4 million caregivers in the , according to the Department of Health and Human Services.

And some of those people don't even know they are caregivers.

Who is a caregiver?  Am I a caregiver?

A caregiver is anyone who gives care to someone else, especially if that person is depending on you.  It's someone who helps another person with the tasks of daily living.  You may be a family member or a friend.  You may live together or just visit from time to time - you might not even live in the same area. You may give intense help, like aiding with bathing and toileting, or you may make social calls and sometimes bring over some food or run an errand. Or you may work from a distance to arrange finances, healthcare, or other life necessities for someone you care about.  You may help out on weekends, or you may even have left your job to care for someone around the clock.

Whether your help is given yearly, monthly, weekly, or daily, you are a caregiver. And caregivers provide an estimated $350 billion of services every year!

Most of all, a caregiver is someone who does his or her best to take care of someone special. And everyone could use a little extra help doing something as important as that.

Subscribe to Points of Caregiving
Caregiving can be difficult, and we're here to help. Points of Caregiving is a comprehensive web-based service for caregivers. We offer convenient, simple access to information, advice, and tools to help caregivers just like you. You will learn from expert educational material, explore helpful online decision-making tools, gain support from a community environment, and enjoy great value through MarketPlace.  You'll find the factual help you need and the emotional support you deserve from a caring community of people in the same situation.

To make caregiving decisions with confidence, subscribe today at www.PointsofCaregiving.com.