A caregiver is anyone who helps another person in need with daily tasks such as bathing, cooking, eating, taking medications, dressing, using the bathroom, shopping, house cleaning, and the like. Approximately 44 million Americans (21% of the adult population) provide unpaid care. The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services estimates that informal caregivers provide 80% of the long-term care in the United States. As our population continues to age, demands for care will steadily increase, and caregiver stress, unless recognized and remedied, will become even more pervasive.
Providing care is physically and emotionally demanding, especially when the care recipient requires 24 hour care. A spousal caregiver over the age of 65 has a greatly increased risk of dying over spouses in the same age group who are not providing care. Very often, the caregiving spouse neglects his or her own health issues, which are usually compounded by stress, because he or she is too busy addressing the care needs of the spouse or parent.
Obvious physical signs of stress include, but certainly are not limited to, fatigue, high blood pressure, irregular heart beat or palpitations, chest pain, back, shoulder or neck pain, frequent headaches, digestive problems and hair loss. Caregivers experiencing sustained stress may also exhibit a weakened immune system. Emotional signs of stress include a gamut of feelings, including, but not limited to, anxiety, depression, irritability, frustration, lack of control or isolation. A stressed caregiver may also report or exhibit mood swings, memory problems, and/or general unhappiness, including expressing resentment toward the care recipient and family members who do not contribute.
Most often, caregivers have difficulty asking for help. They may feel hopeless and express feelings of extreme guilt associated with asking someone else to provide care in their stead, even if only for a short period of time. In this regard, it is very important for the family and friends of caregivers to encourage regular respite for the caregiver and to ensure that the caregiver takes these regular breaks from caregiving.
There are a variety of programs available to assist caregivers, including meal delivery, home health care, day care, transportation, and the like. Caregivers should objectively look at the care they are providing and determine whether it may be done more efficiently, and they should also prioritize tasks, use lists, and establish a daily routine, while avoiding taking on additional projects, such as hosting a holiday meal.
Many support groups exist that are great for developing friendships with other caregivers learning improved ways to provide care or cope with difficulties. Moreover, caregivers should be sure to include some fun in their weekly schedule, be sure to get regular exercise, plan healthy meals, and adhere to a sleep schedule that ensures they will receive adequate ongoing rest.
Gina M. Barry, Esq.
