Friday Declared King County Caregivers Day

KIRKLAND, WA — Friday will mark the first ever King County Caregiver Day, a day to recognize all the hard work done by caregivers in the months since the coronavirus pandemic began.

King County Executive Dow Constantine created the special day by signing a proclamation early this week. In that proclamation, the county recognizes that "the importance of caregivers has been magnified by the COVID-19 pandemic, as they are imperative in helping to keep vulnerable people safe and health at home."

Read the full text of the proclamation below:

It also notes that more than one in five Americans have provided care to an adult or child with special needs at some point over the past year.

The coronavirus pandemic is particularly dangerous for the elderly, many of whom have underlying health conditions that can complicate treatment, which in turn places extra stress on caregivers working in retirement or assisted living homes.

In Washington, patients 80 or older represent just 5 percent of coronavirus cases, but 51 percent of COVID-19 deaths.