The beginning of November marks the start of National Family Caregivers Month, which is sponsored by the National Family Caregivers Association. In support of this annual awareness effort, Health Net, Inc. (NYSE: HNT) is sharing tips to help caregivers take care of themselves so they better help the ones they love.

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Approximately 15 million Americans provide care for others. They spend at least part of their day – before or after work – assisting parents, family members or friends who need help in order to remain living in their own homes. It can be a difficult task. It’s even harder if you are one of the “Sandwich Generation” – caring for your parents while caring for your children, too.

If you feel stuck in the middle of caregiving, the U.S. Administration on Aging (AOA) offers the following suggestions:

1. Ask for help. Siblings, cousins and other family members can help share the load. You don’t have to go it alone. Neighbors and friends may be willing to provide transportation or respite care or take on shopping duties.

2. Tap existing resources. Ask about resources in your company that provide caregiving assistance. Many companies offer free or low-cost assistance programs to help ease the burden. Visit your local area’s Agency on Aging. They often have services that can help with everything from transportation to legal assistance. Also, Eldercare Locator (www.eldercare.gov) helps track down resources. The AOA also has a helpful web page http://www.aoa.gov/AoARoot/Elders_Families/.

3. Talk to Other Caregivers. Do you want to share ideas and strategies? Ask for support during a difficult moment? Help someone solve a problem? Then check out Family Caregiver Alliance’s Online Caregiver Support Group. It might fit your needs. Visit www.Caregiver.org.

4. Empower the person you care for to be independent. Understand that caregiving does not mean doing everything for someone. Letting care recipients help themselves boosts self-worth. Many new technologies are available to support mobility needs.

5. Know your options for home health care. Churches, temples, senior employment services, senior centers and other agencies often coordinate care options and volunteer workers. Ask about the resources that may be available.

6. Take care of yourself, too. Studies show that caregivers who take care of their own needs are happier and healthier, and so are their charges. Treat yourself right. Give yourself quality time apart from caregiving.

“With the 2010 Medicare Annual Election period beginning November 15, 2009, your elderly friends or parents may ask for help in deciding which Medicare plan to choose,” said Scott Kelly, chief Medicare officer of Health Net, Inc. “Having the right information on the ‘four Cs’ – cost, convenience, customer service and coverage – makes the decision making process easier and less stressful.”

Caregivers are constantly dealing with stress, not only because of new demands in their day-to-day lives but also because of the increased sense of responsibility in caring for older family members.

“Helping aging parents make important financial and health care decisions creates much pressure and stress. The decisions we might make for ourselves may not be the ones our parents would make, and the differences need to be reconciled,” said Dr. Ian Shaffer, chief medical officer of MHN, the behavioral health subsidiary of Health Net, Inc. “It’s essential that caregivers attend to their own well-being, because ongoing stress can lead to depression, caregiver burnout and physical health problems.”

For more information on Health Net’s Medicare Advantage plans, visit www.abetterdecision.com. You also can visit www.medicare.gov for information Medicare plans. Don’t forget to get ideas and support from other caregivers. For more information on caregiving, go to www.aoa.gov or www.eldercare.gov.