WASHINGTON--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Oct. 31, 2005--November is National Family Caregivers Month. Because of the significant role that family caregivers play in helping loved ones make decisions about health care matters, The National Family Caregivers Association's (NFCA) new Caring Every Day Campaign, set to launch this month, will include a timely focus on educating family caregivers about enrollment in the Medicare Part D program.

Sponsored each year by NFCA, NFC Month is designed to focus on the many challenges facing family caregivers, to draw support for stronger public policies that address their issues, and to raise awareness about programs that support them. Through the NFCA Web site, www.thefamilycaregiver.org, family caregivers can link to several consumer friendly sources of information about the new Medicare prescription program -- some with links specifically designed for family caregivers.

"Family caregivers are a significant segment of the population who need to fully understand the Medicare prescription drug benefit program," said Suzanne Mintz, NFCA president and co-founder. "More than 50 million adults are selflessly engaged in providing 80% of America's homecare services for the chronically ill or disabled, of which the majority are over 55. In addition to assisting with activities of daily living, family caregivers are very influential providers of healthcare information to their care recipients on matters such as understanding the new drug benefit program," Mintz commented.

"Recent partnerships with the corporate and non-profit communities are making the Caring Every Day Campaign possible. Their support is also helping us to insure that family caregivers get the information they need about the new Medicare Part D program. Getting and understanding program-related information is a critical element in helping them make well informed choices for themselves and their loved ones, especially during the open enrollment period," said Mintz.

NFC month provided a timely opportunity for corporations and organizations to give their support. Caring Every Day Campaign sponsors include AstraZeneca, Adventist HealthCare, Eisai Inc., Novartis, Pfizer, Brooks and Eckerd Pharmacy, GlaxoSmithKline, Johnson & Johnson Consumer Companies, Inc., MetLife Foundation, Caregiver.com, and the Living Independently Group.

NFCA educates supports, empowers, and advocates for the more than 50 million Americans who care for aging or chronically ill loved ones.

The organization reaches across the boundaries of diagnoses, relationships, and life stages to address the common needs and concerns of all family caregivers. For more information about NFCA, or to support its non-profit programs, please visit NFCA online, or call 1-800-896-3650.

Copyright Business Wire 2005

National Family Caregivers Association

National Family Caregivers Association

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