11/25/2025
November is National Family Caregivers Monthāa time to honor the people who make healing possible behind the scenes.
In Vermont, 135,000 caregivers provide essential support to those facing health challenges. Most are women, and nearly all help with daily tasks like meal prep, medication, and managing financesāoften at a personal cost. The average caregiver is 52 years old, caring for someone around age 70.
When cancer enters the picture, caregiving takes on a unique energy.
āWith cancer, oftentimes it's an intense and short period of caring,ā says Maija Reblin, PhD, and a UVM Cancer Center member. "No one plans to become a cancer caregiver. Sometimes you don't have time to learn your role and get used to things.ā
In rural Vermont, travel can be a barrier. āTreatment and follow-up appointments require a lot more planning,ā Reblin says. āIf a caregiver wants to be at that appointment to hear what's going on, they've got to take off work.ā
For every cancer patient, thereās likely at least one caregiverāand often more. Many provide invisible support, clearing the way for patients by managing lifeās details. This month, letās honor their unseen labor and advocate for resources and policies that make caregiving sustainable.
If you are a caregiver, take a look at UVMCC's Caregiver Survey and resources.
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