Each November since 1994, family caregivers are recognized in National Family Caregivers Month for helping family members with medical needs.
Family caregivers can often be the main source of support for people with disabilities and older adults. The Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) defines a family caregiver as someone in a family who aids an individual with a chronic health condition which includes mental health and substance use conditions, disability, or functional limitation.
Family caregivers are needed, and the demand for family caregivers is growing year by year. SAMHSA and the National Council on Aging say there are 53 million family caregivers that provide unpaid care. SAMHSA said the pay for unpaid care is equal to $600 billion per year.
This article highlights how the Midwest Quality Innovation Network-Quality Improvement Network (QIN-QIO0 assists family caregivers, and how you can support a caregiver you know.
Midwest QIN-QIO Involvement with Family Caregivers
Medical providers, outpatient clinics, patients, families of patients, and caregivers benefit from the Midwest QIN-QIO CMS 13th scope of work. The Midwest QIN-QIO is a comprehensive quality improvement program that places healthcare providers and consumers at its center. Participants set collaborative goals to make an impact on the most challenging healthcare issues facing our communities today.
Our experts work with hospitals, nursing homes, and outpatient clinical practices to drive measurable improvements in healthcare quality and patient safety. Through our no-cost quality improvement initiatives, we work to increase access to quality care, enhance care delivery, and optimize health outcomes for millions of beneficiaries across our service area.
Midwest QIN-QIO supports the engagement of patients and their families and caregivers to support improvements in patient safety, including transparency in reporting safety issues or near misses, and leveraging Patient and Family Advisory Committees (PFAC) in raising awareness of and addressing organizational patient safety concerns. Midwest QIN-QIO also supports the engagement of patients, their families, and caregivers to support improvement in behavioral health outcomes, including self-management skills, shared decision making, and other person-centered care principles. Person-centered care principles include inclusion of patient preferences, coordination and integration of care, prioritization of patient comfort and emotional support, involvement of patient family and caregivers, access to care, information and education, and care transition coordination, at a minimum.
In this scope of work, Midwest QIN-QIO will use scale transformative care coordination approaches that improve patient access to care and resources, and that support patients, families, and caregivers in navigating the healthcare system with minimal burden.
Midwest QIN-QIO is also working on advancing healthcare through technology and health information technology to address a digital divide in health care and help improve health care outcomes with clear communication and best practices. In the 13th scope of work, the Midwest QIN-QIO supports the engagement and activation of patients, families, and caregivers to improve prevention and chronic disease management, including promoting self-management skills, shared decision making, and other person-centered care approaches, improving patient outcomes and patient experience. Modern technology tools such as data analytics, machine learning, and AI, are going to be used to enhance care quality, reduce costs, and improve patient experiences where applicable.
How to spread gratitude for a family caregiver on social media
Here’s how you can recognize a family caregiver that you know on social media:
- Make a thankful post on a social media platform (Facebook, X, Instagram, etc.)
- Spread awareness for National Family Caregivers Month on social media
- Use hashtags such as #NationalFamilyCaregiversMonth
Contact Us
Are you a family caregiver and want to work with the Midwest QIN-QIO? Email contact@midwestqinqio.com or visit the contact us page on our website to submit an inquiry.
Resources
How to Honor Caregivers During National Family Caregivers Month