February 16, 2024: National Caregivers Day

WHEREAS, millions of Michiganders serve as dedicated caregivers, providing long-term, in-home, and hospice care, whether professionally or to family members in an unpaid capacity; and,

WHEREAS, caregivers deliver a variety of critical services with compassion and professionalism, ranging from personal care and healthcare coordination to complex medical and nursing tasks; and,

WHEREAS, Michigan’s unpaid family caregivers provide billions of dollars of care every year; and,

WHEREAS, while the opportunity to provide care to a loved one can be rewarding and a source of connection that is often taken on without hesitation, it often requires sacrifice. Thousands of Michiganders have sacrificed jobs and altered careers to perform caregiving duties; and,

WHEREAS, direct care workforce shortages result in more hours of care and higher-intensity care by family and other unpaid caregivers, who are often relatives but may also be friends, neighbors, and coworkers; and

WHEREAS, I, Gretchen Whitmer, am reaffirming Michigan’s commitment to supporting family caregivers by working to enact the Caring for MI Family Tax Credit, offering up to $5,000 in tax savings for those caring for an aging or sick relative to cover caregiving expenses including counseling, transportation, and nursing or respite services; and,

WHEREAS, resources for family caregivers are also available through support groups, toolkits, and workshops through Area Agencies on Aging, the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs, advocacy organizations, and community-based services; and,

WHEREAS, today, Michigan recognizes the innumerable contributions and personal sacrifices that both paid and unpaid caregivers make in service to the health and well-being of Michigan’s communities;

NOW, THEREFORE, I, Gretchen Whitmer, governor of Michigan, do hereby proclaim February 16, 2024, as National Caregivers Day in Michigan.