Caregiving (cont.)
Who are our nation's caregivers?
About one in four American families or 22.4 million households care for
someone over the age of 50. The number of American households involved in
caregiving may reach 39 million by 2007.
- About 75% of caregivers are women.
- Two-thirds of caregivers in the United
States have jobs in addition to caring for another person.
- Most caregivers are
middle-aged: 35-64 years old.
What is caregiver stress?
Caregiver stress is the emotional strain of caregiving. Studies show that
caregiving takes a toll on physical and emotional health. Caregivers are
more likely to suffer from depression than their peers. Limited research
suggests that caregivers may also be more likely to have health problems
like diabetes and heart disease than non-caregivers.
Caring for another person takes a lot of time, effort, and work. Plus, most
caregivers juggle caregiving with full-time jobs and parenting. In the process,
caregivers put their own needs aside. Caregivers often report that it is
difficult to look after their own health in terms of exercise, nutrition, and
doctor's visits. So, caregivers often end up feeling angry, anxious, isolated,
and sad.
Caregivers for people with Alzheimer's disease (AD) or other kinds of
dementia are particularly vulnerable to burnout. Research shows that most
dementia caregivers suffer from depression and stress. Also, studies show that
the more hours spent on caregiving, the greater the risk of anxiety and
depression.
Women caregivers are particularly prone to feeling stress and overwhelmed.
Studies show that female caregivers have more emotional and physical health
problems, employment-related problems, and financial strain than male
caregivers. Other research shows that people who care for their spouses are more
prone to caregiving-related stress than those who care for other family members.
It is important to note that caring for another person can also create
positive emotional change. Aside from feeling stress, many caregivers say their
role has had many positive effects on their lives. For example, caregivers
report that caregiving has given them a sense of purpose. They say that their
role makes them feel useful, capable and that they are making a difference in
the life of a loved one.
Next: How can I tell if caregiving is putting too much stress on me? »
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