Caring for others: It's just what we do in the South

So says this study completed by the Univ. of Florida and commissioned by Georgia Southwestern State University, the alma mater of former first lady Rosalynn Carter.

Nearly 17 percent of Southerners said in survey that they provide regular care to a friend or family member 60 or older who has a long-term illness or disability, according to University of Florida researchers.

Caregiving prevalence was about 15 percent in the Midwest, Northeast and Rocky Mountain states, about 14 percent in New England and the Southwest, and just 13 percent in the Pacific states.

At the age of 19, I became a caregiver to my father who was very sick the last few years of his life. And my mother has been a caregiver for different family members for 20 years now. So this is a subject that I deeply care about.

Mrs. Carter, an advocate for caregivers, says, "I have a colleague who says there are four categories of caregivers - those who have been caregivers, those who are caregivers, those who will be caregivers and those who will need caregiving," she said. "It's going to affect everybody at one time."

That's so true. And it's something for us all to think about..............

http://www.ledger-enquirer.com/mld/ledgerenquirer/news/politics/14809568.htm