(Radio Iowa) – An Iowa nonprofit that advocates for the state’s hundreds of thousands of care providers is launching a new feature on its website to honor those vital helpers by letting them tell their own stories. Di Findley, executive director of Iowa CareGivers, says the first-person testimonials and photos put a face on the compassion of these important people.

An A-A-R-P Iowa study finds the state has some 65-thousand direct care workers, in addition to a staggering 330-thousand unpaid family caregivers. Findley says they provide the majority of care to Iowans’ loved ones, friends, and neighbors.

Being a caregiver can be very demanding physically and mentally, and often comes with little thanks, yet it’s work to which many people dedicate their lives.

Iowa has one of the nation’s oldest populations and Findley says the demand in the state for caregivers will only continue to rise.

She says the work caregivers do helps older Iowans and people with disabilities to live independently, while reducing the likelihood for institutional care.
https://www.iowacaregivers.org/caregiver-stories
www.iowacaregivers.org