As you saw on page 4, November marks National Family Caregivers Month. It's also a time to raise awareness about an important cultural change occurring globally: for the first time in world history, adults over the age of 65 are outnumbering children under the age of 4.

Shepherd's Center Central is a local contributor in the regional effort to ensure that all people age successfully with dignity, security, and respect. Its Caregiver Institute was established to promote and support skills, health, and resilience for those caring for older adults.

A caregiver can be anyone—a family member, friend, or neighbor. You are a caregiver when an older adult relies on you to help with day-to-day activities. The older adult may live in your own home, nearby, across town, or in another state.

Need help? Call 816-444-1122. The Caregiver Institute at Shepherd's Center Central helps caregivers cope with difficult matters that can complicate daily life, including finding solutions and relief for challenges of aging that involve respite, chronic illness, disability, and poverty.

Free resources, including the "Caregiver's Resource List of Frequently Needed Numbers," an article titled "Caring For an Elderly Relative," and a handout called "Are You A Caregiver?" are available for download at www.sccentral.org.