Appreciating those who support others in need with time, energy, and compassion
ASHEVILLE, NC – On Feb. 21, National Caregivers Day, Vaya Health recognizes and honors the individuals who selflessly provide personal care, emotional support, and a range of complex medical or nursing tasks to those who need it most. These dedicated individuals are unsung heroes who sustain our communities, providing critical support to loved ones with a chronic, disabling, or serious health condition, especially older adults facing complex health challenges.
The need for caregiving support is growing: the National Alliance for Caregiving and AARP estimate that nearly 1 in 5 adults provide unpaid care to someone with health or functional needs. Approximately 53 million Americans, or about 20% of the adult population, are currently serving as caregivers. Vaya knows being an unpaid caregiver is exceptionally hard, and that recognizing and supporting family caregivers is crucial to the health and wellbeing of caregivers and the people they serve.
The physical, emotional, and financial toll on caregivers cannot be overlooked: a 2023 study by the National Institute on Aging reveals that 1 in 4 caregivers report that caregiving has negatively impacted their physical health.
In response to these challenges, Vaya’s Geriatric Adult Specialty Team (GAST) offers free on-site and web-based education about the behavioral health needs of older adults as well as support for caregivers and care providers. These services are tailored to professional caregivers, family caregivers, community members, and organizations. GAST provides training on crucial topics including mental health, substance use, dementia care, and managing emotional or behavioral challenges in older adults.
In the state fiscal year that ended June 30, 2024, Vaya’s GAST program has made a significant impact by providing 2,429 hours of training through 2,313 presentations and engaging over 12,250 individuals. The team also reached out to 3,739 community agencies and organizations that serve older populations, many of whom had not previously received GAST services. A team of registered nurses, licensed clinicians, and qualified mental health professionals delivers the training, which is approved for continuing education contact hours by the NC Division of Health Service Regulation.
“Our mission is to provide care providers with the resources and tools they need to care for themselves and those they love,” said Terry Spencer, Geriatric Team Manager at Vaya. “On National Caregivers Day, we want to honor and recognize the invaluable contributions of caregivers and continue our commitment to supporting this often unseen and underappreciated workforce.”
Vaya remains committed to expanding its efforts to meet the growing needs of caregivers across North Carolina.
For more information about Vaya’s GAST services or to access educational resources, visit Education and Training | Vaya Health.
About Vaya Health
Vaya Health is a specialty managed care organization and local government agency that oversees publicly funded health care services across a 32-county region of North Carolina for people with significant behavioral health needs, intellectual/developmental disabilities, and traumatic brain injuries. Vaya manages Medicaid, federal, state, and local funding to meet member and community needs while advancing whole-person health. Together with members, contracted providers, and local partners, we’re moving forward to a healthier North Carolina. Vaya Health can be found online at vayahealth.com, on Facebook at facebook.com/VayaHealth/, on X.com (formerly known as Twitter) @VayaHealth, and on LinkedIn at linkedin.com/company/vaya-health.
