In commemoration of National Family Caregivers Month in November, the Lupus Foundation of America, North Carolina Chapter (LFANC) is helping raise awareness about the impact of lupus on caregivers and the resources to help caregivers.

According to the recent UNVEIL: UNDERSTANDING THE IMPACT OF LUPUS study by the Lupus Foundation of America, despite the devastating impact lupus has on more than 1.5 million Americans each year, awareness about the disease remains very low. In addition, it shows how the lifelong impact of lupus affects those living with the disease as well as on lupus caregivers.

“We’re on a mission to unveil the lives interrupted by lupus because the public needs to better understand the challenges people with lupus and caregivers face daily,” said Christine John-Fuller, President and CEO of LFANC. “The more we know the better we can support those living with lupus and the sooner we can conquer this mysterious and devastating disease.”

The following are some UNVEIL survey results showing the impact on caregivers:

Work-life

• A large proportion (41 percent) of caregivers surveyed are only able to work part-time or intermittently, or are unemployed, with nearly half (45 percent) of those indicating caregiving responsibilities being the reason. In addition, 60 percent note they spend 16 or more hours per week helping loved ones with lupus.

Family life/Daily Living

• More than 75 percent of caregivers surveyed help a loved one with lupus with daily activities, such as cooking, shopping, household chores and providing financial help.

• Nearly three in four people with lupus surveyed (76 percent) said fatigue limits their ability to participate in social activities. For caregivers, nearly half surveyed (49 percent) replied that caregiving responsibilities impact their ability to socialize with friends.

Mental Health

• More than 94 percent of caregivers surveyed experience increased anxiety and stress in relation to their caregiving, worrying that their loved one with lupus will become sicker.

For more information about the UNVEIL study, visit http://www.lupus.org/pages/unveil-survey.

The following are some tips from the LFA for those living with lupus and for caregivers:

• Visit the LFA on-line caregiving resource, Caregiving: What You Need to Know, comprehensive resource designed to provide caregivers with guidance, support and advice.

• Whether you have lupus or care for someone with lupus, pay as much attention to your mental health as you do to your physical health. The LFA has more information on depression and how and when to seek help.

• Understand that life with lupus impacts the entire family, and not only the person with lupus. The LFA has more information about how lupus may affect family dynamics and what you can do to help a loved one with lupus.

Adds John-Fuller, “We see firsthand the tremendous impact that lupus has on caregivers. In honor of National Family Caregivers Month, we applaud each and every one of them for their love, commitment, tireless efforts and all that they do to support their loved ones who have lupus.”

About Lupus:

Lupus is an unpredictable and misunderstood autoimmune disease that ravages different parts of the body. It is difficult to diagnose, hard to live with, and a challenge to treat. Lupus is a cruel mystery because it is hidden from view and undefined, has a range of symptoms, hits out of nowhere, and has no known cause and no known cure. Its health effects can range from a skin rash to a heart attack. Lupus is debilitating and destructive, and can be fatal, yet research on lupus remains underfunded relative to its scope and devastation.

About the Lupus Foundation of America, North Carolina Chapter

The Lupus Foundation of America, North Carolina Chapter is part of the national force devoted to solving the cruel mystery of lupus while providing caring support to those who suffer from its brutal impact. We work with local health professionals and volunteers to provide information and programs to ensure people with lupus and their families get answers and health professionals know about new means to diagnose and manage the disease. The chapter serves an estimated 45,000 living with lupus in North Carolina. For more information about lupus or the LFANC, visit www.lupusnc.org or call (877) 849-8271. For the latest news and updates, follow us on Facebook and Twitter.