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By Sarah Hijaz, Health Policy Intern<\/strong> Sarah is a recent graduate of The George Washington University Trachtenberg of Public Policy and Public Administration, where she received a Master of Public Policy (MPP). Her main background is in public health, having worked in clinical trial protocol development and cancer health disparity research and outreach efforts. Sarah plans to pursue a Doctor of Public Health (DrPH) degree, concentrating on health policy. During the interim period before starting a DrPH program, an internship at NCL is a great opportunity to gain exposure to the advocacy side of public health and health policy.<\/em><\/p>\n <\/p>\n November is Family Caregivers Month, and as President Obama describes it\u2019s meant to \u201crecognize and thank the humble heroes who do so much to keep our families and communities strong.\u201d Family caregivers are individuals, including friends or neighbors that dedicate unpaid time and resources towards caring for the physical and\/or mental health of a loved one. The Caregiver Action Network, a non-profit organization that provides support, education, and resources to family caregivers across the United States, has identified the theme for this year\u2019s Family Caregivers Month as\u00a0\u201cNow More Than Ever.\u201d<\/a><\/p>\n Family caregiver advocates are increasingly calling for a shift in the focus of national conversation away from the concept that family caregivers are simply providers of care to a more relationship in which these caregivers are also integral members of loved ones\u2019 healthcare teams. There are 90 million family caregivers in this\u00a0country<\/a>; that\u2019s two out of every five adults who care for one or more family members. Certain patient populations that depend heavily on family caregiving support are rising, such as those suffering from Alzheimer\u2019s, children with special needs, as well as wounded veterans. The overall population of adult caregivers has correspondingly risen from 30% to 39% in the past 3\u00a0years. Often, many caregivers find themselves in this challenging and complex role suddenly and with little warning or time for preparation.<\/p>\n Patient health issues can be purely physical, emphasizing family care activities that focus on duties such as administration of medications or household help. However, other loved ones may suffer from psychological ailments that leave them unable to take part in their care planning, transforming the family caregiver into a healthcare decision maker. Because of the many different roles that a family caregiver can play, there are rising calls for a more formal recognition of family caregivers as key members of patient-centered teams.<\/p>\n