Learn why the caregiver role is so important to Michelle-Ann Charlers, Senior Manager, Public Affairs in Kyowa Kirin North America. She shares her perspective for the National Family Caregivers Month (America).

Gratifying. Challenging. Encouraging. All-consuming. These are just some of the words that come to my mind to describe caregiving. National Family Caregivers Month is a great time to reflect on the incredible work of caregivers. It’s difficult to see someone you care for in pain and suffering. Caregivers want to help as much as possible to ease the burden a disease puts on the person we look after. Being a caregiver myself, this topic is near and dear to me.

The caregiver role is unique depending on the disease and the relationship to the patient. There are a lot of complexities to navigate. If the caregiver is a parent caring for their child, they’re making all the decisions; whether it’s selecting healthcare providers, making doctor’s appointments, or determining the course of treatment.

If the patient is an adult, caregiving needs a different approach and becomes a consultative process. The patient is the ultimate decisionmaker, and as a caregiver, you can provide encouragement and support as they work to find the best solution for themselves. At times, I envision the caregiver as an angel on the patient’s shoulder, whispering in their ear and trying to guide them through the ups and downs of life.

In my role as Senior Manager of Public Affairs at Kyowa Kirin, I hear stories from other caregivers, which serve as insights and inspiration for our advocacy collaborations. They also remind me that as a caregiver myself, I also need to seek support. The authentic interactions I’ve had with caregivers in my professional work and insights based on my own journey in this role have resulted in important lessons for other caregivers to keep in mind:

Speak up. A doctor’s visit can make the patient anxious, and they may forget certain things. Or they may be embarrassed and don’t want to admit their symptoms aren’t being well-managed. You can tell the doctor if their symptoms got worse or a medicine they take had bothersome side effects in case the patient doesn’t do it themselves.

Trust your gut. Even if the person you are caring for says they are fine, take action if you notice things are not okay and get answers at the doctor’s office or whatever you need to do. This can be hard if you’re not used to that, especially if the patient is a parent. But caregivers are not just there for the sunny days, they are also with the patient when it’s dark and rainy.

Ask for help. Some caregivers feel they have to do everything by themselves to be a good caregiver - and do so 24/7 without question or complaint. That’s not the case. Take advantage of resources that are out there that can help. For example, look for programs where the caregiver can bring the patient, and the patient does their own program, while the caregiver is getting some much needed downtime, connecting with other caregivers. You are not alone, you have a whole community around you.

Take some ME time. Caregiving may take time away from your own work, school or other activities you love. While it may be more challenging, it’s important for your mental and emotional health to do things that bring you joy. You are allowed to have fun free from guilt!

Stay positive. A diagnosis is not destiny. Work with the patient’s healthcare team and use other available resources, to develop a caregiving plan for the future. Knowing what to do at different stages of the disease journey can help reduce stress.

I’m very proud of the work Kyowa Kirin has done to support caregivers and consider it an honor to be involved in these efforts. When you start a project you never know what impact it’s going to have. So it’s gratifying to hear caregivers who attended Kyowa Kirin sponsored programs say they gave them some good ideas to help them plan for their future. Doing this type of work reminds me that on a personal level I also need to take advantage of caregiver resources that are out there. Seeking advice and asking for help is nothing to be ashamed of. It can make us all better caregivers and individuals.

Learn more about Kyowa Kirin North America, please visit https://kkna.kyowakirin.com/Open in new window or https://www.linkedin.com/company/kyowa-kirin-inc.--u.s./Open in new window

More Kyowa Kirin "Patients" Stories

Kyowa Kirin Hosted Booth at Tokyo Rainbow Pride 2024 for a Second Year in a Row: Initiatives for Accelerating DE&I and the Ideal State a Company Should Strive to Be (Part One)

People & Culture | October 15, 2024

Kyowa Kirin Hosted Booth at Tokyo Rainbow Pride 2024 for a Second Year in a Row: Initiatives for Accelerating DE&I and the Ideal State a Company Should Strive to Be (Part Two)

People & Culture | October 15, 2024

Strengthening our training framework to tackle the biopharmaceutical engineer shortage

People & Culture | September 20, 2024

Highlighting Kyowa Kirin's initiatives across regions for PRIDE MONTH 2024

People & Culture | September 13, 2024

Bio Adventure: Kyowa Kirin’s works with local communities on project to foster future scientists

People & Culture | August 9, 2024

PRIDE MONTH Message from Jeremy Morgan, President, Kyowa Kirin International plc (EMEA region)

People & Culture | July 5, 2024

Kyowa Kirin launches the CTCL Global Care Collaborative’s Time to Act global consensus statement

Patients | May 13, 2024

Kyowa Kirin Global Corporate Planning Head Shoko Itagaki’s Message for International Women's Day

People & Culture | March 8, 2024

Kyowa Kirin celebrates Rare Disease Day 2024 across the world

Patients | February 9, 2024

Kyowa Kirin CEO Miyamoto’s New Year Message

Growth | January 9, 2024

Kyowa Kirin Chief International Business Officer Abdul Mullick’s Message on UN’s International Day of Persons with Disabilities

Sustainability | December 1, 2023

Kyowa Kirin hosted a booth for the first time at the Tokyo Rainbow Pride 2023 [Our Diversity, Equity & Inclusion]

People & Culture | November 9, 2023

Our Stable Supply of High-quality Pharmaceuticals

Sustainability | September 20, 2023

Provide pharmaceuticals for unmet medical needs - A Conversation with Kyowa Kirin’s R&D Executives

Innovation | August 22, 2023PDF file

Ensure a Thriving Global Environment for Future Generations

Sustainability | July 28, 2023

“Menstruation” and “fertility treatment” felt like taboo subjects in the workplace - Why be open about issues unique to women? PartⅡ

People & Culture | June 9, 2023

How Kyowa Kirin Celebrated Rare Disease Day 2023 around The World

Patients | May 18, 2023

“Menstruation” and “fertility treatment” felt like taboo subjects in the workplace - Why be open about issues unique to women? PartⅠ

People & Culture | April 25, 2023

Kyowa Kirin CEO Miyamoto’s Message on Rare Disease Day

Patients | February 28, 2023

Promoting patient advocacy and nurturing patient-centric care: Interview with Kyowa Kirin North America

Patients | February 14, 2023

Celebrating another year of diverse initiatives around the world: RDD 2022 in EMEA

Patients | January 24, 2023

Celebrating another year of diverse initiatives around the world: RDD 2022 in North America

Patients | December 15, 2022

Celebrating another year of diverse initiatives around the world: RDD 2022 in Asia Pacific

Patients | November 21, 2022

Celebrating another year of diverse initiatives around the world: RDD 2022 in Japan

Patients | October 20, 2022

Providing high-quality pharmaceuticals to patients around the world

Sustainability | September 22, 2022

Striving to create life-changing “Only-one value” that brings smiles to patients

Innovation | July 25, 2022

Kyowa Kirin International: It's Time to Shine A Light on XLH

Patients | June 27, 2022

Kyowa Kirin CEO Miyamoto’s Message on Pride Month

People & Culture | June 9, 2022

Kyowa Kirin International Celebrates the UN’s International Day of Persons with Disabilities in EMEA

People & Culture | January 20, 2022

Kyowa Kirin International: Around the world challenge

People & Culture | December 17, 2021Open in new window

Kyowa Kirin North America: Honoring The Caregiver, Everyday Heroes, During National Family Caregivers Month

Patients | November 19, 2021

Kyowa Kirin's Effort to Realize a Sustainable Society

Sustainability | October 11, 2021

Our Financial Strategy for Creating Life-changing Value

Growth | September 9, 2021

Changes in society caused by COVID-19 and the impact on Kyowa Kirin

Growth | August 19, 2021

Bio Adventure Hands-On Experience Sessions: Become a drug discovery researcher During Your Summer Break

Sustainability | July 27, 2021

AMGEN AND KYOWA KIRIN TO JOINTLY DEVELOP AND COMMERCIALIZE KHK4083, A PHASE 3-READY, POTENTIAL FIRST-IN-CLASS TREATMENT FOR ATOPIC DERMATITIS

News Release | June 1, 2021

MEI Pharma and Kyowa Kirin Announce New Clinical Data on Zandelisib at American Society of Clinical Oncology Annual Meeting

News Release | May 20, 2021

White Paper on the unrecognized burden of XLH in adults in Europe

Patients | July 13, 2020

Empowering Children to Ask "Why?": Tohoku University Science Campus Hands-On Science Lessons (First Half)

People & Culture | March 5, 2020

Empowering Children to Ask "Why?": Tohoku University Science Campus Hands-On Science Lessons (Second Half)

People & Culture | March 5, 2020

“Delivering smiles with sports” Creating an inclusive society through table tennis

Sustainability | January 14, 2020

Bio Adventure*: Kyowa Kirin Invites Children to a Science Adventure

People & Culture | July 3, 2019

Return to Stories