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Family caregivers across Oklahoma face mounting pressures as they provide care, often at the expense of their own mental and physical well-being. This November, as we observe National Family Caregiver Month, let’s pause to consider the often-overlooked support that caregivers and parents desperately need. Caregivers for individuals with intellectual and developmental disabilities experience especially high levels of stress and burnout, conditions that only a comprehensive support system can alleviate.
Recent insights from the Surgeon General’s Advisory, led by Dr. Vivek Murthy, underscore the urgency of better supporting parents and caregivers to help our communities thrive. In the U.
S., 43% of special needs caregivers report high stress, and 30% say caregiving has directly worsened their own health. In fact, 26% of special needs caregivers report their health as fair or poor, compared to only 13% of the general adult population.
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In dozens of states, people are forced to wait years for assistance with daily tasks like cooking, bathing and transportation. This gap in essential support leaves families stretched to the breaking point. In Oklahoma, the desperate need for systemic support led to the state’s recent efforts to address its decade-long backlog in services for people with IDD.
Until just two years ago, more than 5,100 Oklahomans had been waiting up to 13 years for developmental disability services. The waiting list for these supports prompted state lawmakers to approve a $32.5 million funding package, the largest-ever funding increase in the history of Oklahoma’s Department of Human Services.
This bold move came not a moment too soon, as more than 3,000 additional applications for services have already been received since efforts began to clear the list. Community organizations are also stepping up to find solutions for family caregivers. In 2022, The Arc of Oklahoma hosted screenings of "Unseen," a documentary that offers a raw look into the lives of parent caregivers, illuminating their often invisible struggles.
Panel discussions following the film got state leaders and disability advocates talking about what can be done to support family caregivers. In the next year, The Arc will launch a Community Partners Respite Program to provide full-time, primary family caregivers with much-needed breaks from their duties. This respite care is critical; it provides temporary relief for caregivers, allowing them a moment to rest and recharge.
It’s clear that family caregiving is not just a private matter but a public health priority that requires real, sustainable solutions. Oklahoma has made strides with increased funding for developmental disability services, but there is more work to be done. Effective support for caregivers must include policies that guarantee paid family leave, affordable and accessible child care and robust mental health resources.
Furthermore, programs that offer respite and foster community connections can significantly alleviate the pressures that caregivers face daily. During National Family Caregiver Month, let’s commit to seeing caregivers for who they are: the backbone of our families and communities. In Oklahoma, it’s time we match our appreciation with real action.
The well-being of our caregivers is essential to the health of our state, and by prioritizing their needs, we’re investing in a brighter, healthier future for every Oklahoman. Lisa Kelly is CEO at The Arc of Oklahoma and a member of the Tulsa World Community Advisory Board..
