Those of you caring for aging loved ones need no reminder- but for the rest of us, it’s important to acknowledge the reality that family caregiving is a very tough job, and family caregivers need help and support. In recognition, November has been declared National Family Caregiver Month, and the “theme” of this year’s recognition is the “round the clock”, non-stop nature of caregiving. Even if you’re not personally delivering hands-on care, as a family caregiver you know the oversight and responsibilities can be all-consuming. For those of you in need of some advice and resources, take a look at this Family Caregiver Toolbox Here. And while it seems as though there’s no national policy in place to help family caregivers, there are some people in Washington who understand your plight. Next Avenue recently published a piece highlighting members of Congress who have also been family caregivers and know first hand the challenges and difficulties- and the need for better policies and provisions from DC. Take a look at the article Here. Finally, even experts in aging and end-of-life care struggle with family caregiving. Next Avenue also just published an interview with Melanie Merriman, a hospice consultant with a new book, Holding The Net: Caring For My Mother On The Tightrope Of Aging. Merriman describes the difficulties she encountered with the daunting task of caring for her mother over many years of decline. Even for this expert, it’s an all too familiar tale of the challenges family caregivers face. Read the interview with Merriman Here.