I do a lot of things on my own. I run a business, I design products, I travel, I speak, and I’ve spent most of my life figuring out how to do things other people assume I can’t. But there are still things I need help with every day. My family helps me get ready in the morning. They help me cook. They help with a hundred little things that make my day work. If you asked them, they probably wouldn’t call themselves caregivers. But they are, and November is National Family Caregivers Month, the perfect time to say that out loud.
My Family Doesn’t Call Themselves Caregivers
When people hear the word caregiver, they often picture a nurse or a home health aide. They don’t always picture a spouse, a parent, a son or daughter, or a close friend. But most care in this country happens inside families, quietly, without a job title.
According to AARP’s Caregiving in the US 2025 report, about 63 million Americans are family caregivers. That’s roughly 1 in 4 adults. Many of them balance work, kids, and their own health on top of helping someone they love.
The people who help me don’t do it for recognition. They do it because they love me. That’s exactly why it’s so important to recognize them. National Family Caregivers Month exists because so much of this work goes unseen, even by the people doing it.
Independence and Help Are Not Opposites
For a long time, I felt like needing help took something away from my independence. Growing up, I faced numerous obstacles in a world not designed for people in wheelchairs, limb differences, and people with disabilities in general. A lot of my energy went into proving I could do things myself.
What I’ve learned is that independence isn’t about doing everything alone. Nobody does. Independence is about having choices and control over your own life. The help my family gives me is part of what makes my independence possible. It frees me up to focus on my work, my kids, and the things that matter to me.
I think a lot of people with disabilities feel this tension. National Family Caregivers Month is a good reminder that receiving help doesn’t make anyone less capable, and giving help doesn’t make anyone less of a family member.
Accessibility Gives Caregivers Time Back
Here’s something I don’t hear talked about enough during National Family Caregivers Month. One of the best ways to support caregivers is to make the world more accessible.
Every barrier I run into becomes extra work for the people who help me. A door I can’t open means someone has to come open it. A kitchen I can’t use means someone has to cook. A restaurant with steps means someone has to help me find another way in. When something is accessible, I can do it on my own, and the people in my life get that time and energy back.
That’s a big part of why I invented the Door Nub®. Closing a door sounds small, but when you can’t do it yourself, you need someone else every time. The Door Nub is one less thing my family has to do for me. Tools like smart home automation devices work the same way. Turning on lights, adjusting the thermostat, or locking the door by voice means fewer interruptions for everyone in the house.
So if you want to do something meaningful this National Family Caregivers Month, look at the barriers in your home, your business, or your community. Every one you remove makes life a little easier for a person with a disability and the people who support them.
How Businesses Can Show Up This National Family Caregivers Month
Businesses play a bigger role here than they might think. When a store, restaurant, or doctor’s office isn’t accessible, caregivers pick up the slack. They push wheelchairs up steep ramps, they lift people over steps, and they fill out forms that should have been easier to use.
Simple changes help. Companion seating at venues lets caregivers sit with the person they’re helping. Family restrooms give caregivers a private space to help someone of a different gender. Staff who speak directly to the person with a disability, instead of talking past them to their caregiver, show respect to both people. Clear accessibility information on your website helps caregivers plan ahead instead of guessing.
Simple Ways to Thank the Caregivers in Your Life
Recognition during National Family Caregivers Month doesn’t have to be big. Say thank you, and mean it. Tell the people in your life that you see what they do. Give them a break when you can, whether that’s covering a task for a day or just letting them sleep in. Ask how they’re doing, and actually listen.
If you’re a caregiver yourself, take some time this National Family Caregivers Month to recognize your own work too. It matters, even when it feels like nobody notices.
Let’s Make Your Home Work for Everyone
If you want to reduce the daily workload in your home and give everyone more independence, our home services team can help you find the changes that make the biggest difference. Get in touch with us and we’ll help you build a home that works for the person with a disability and the people who help them.
To the People Who Help Me Every Day
I don’t say it enough, so I’ll say it here. To my family, thank you. Thank you for helping me start my day, for the meals we make together, and for the countless things you do without being asked. You may not think of yourselves as caregivers, but you’re a huge part of the life I’ve built. National Family Caregivers Month is about recognizing the important people in our lives, and you are mine.
