Independence is something we all want and was a gift to newly minted Americans by our Founding Fathers 240 years ago today.

For some, the weight of caregiving for a loved one threatens to capsize our own independence and freedom. How can you care for a loved one without losing the need to care for yourself?

To guarantee the freedom a newly formed nation sought in our precious Declaration of Independence and further cemented in the Constitution, the prescient Founding Fathers, led by James Madison,  created a Bill of Rights in 1789. Virginian Robert Morris argued for these amendments to “protect the individual if the government should become oppressive.”

Over the years, several organizations have put forth guidelines for caregivers to protect their rights while they protect and care for loved ones.  Our CEO Sherri Snelling has cobbled together her version of the “Caregiver Bill of Rights” and created a Me Time Monday on the 10 aspects of caregiving rights.

A reminder on this day of all days that caregivers rights are as important as the care recipient’s and should be not overlooked.

Read: Caregiver Bill of Rights