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For Caregivers

Caregiver Self-Test (click here)

Do you know anyone whose work week is 24/7?  We do. They’re called “informal” caregivers because they are not paid for their work. They are a spouse, a daughter or a dear friend who is taking care of an elderly person in their home. The nation’s caregivers are the unsung heroes of health care. Their numbers are staggering and rising as our population ages. Many are exhausted, isolated, at risk for serious illness or injury and desperately in need of a break. Adult day programs provide the respite and support needed to keep these caregivers going, to encourage independence and meaning in the lives of the elderly and disabled they serve, and to delay costly nursing home placement for as long as possible.

The National Family Caregivers Association (www.nfcacares.org) provides a wealth of information and support for caregivers, as well as data on the economic impact and health care needs of the nation’s caregivers. Here is a snapshot of this data and links to help caregivers in the important work they do (see our Participant Profile story – Caregiving Partnership).

• More than 50 million people provide care for a chronically ill, disabled or aged family member in any given year.
• 30% of family caregivers caring for seniors are themselves aged 65 years of age or older.
• The value of this “free” care is estimated to be $306 billion a year.
• 60% of family caregivers are women. The typical family caregiver is a 46-year-old woman caring for her widowed mother who does not live with her. These caregivers are usually married and employed.
• Women who are family caregivers are 2.5 times more likely than non-caregivers to live in poverty.
• Elderly spousal caregivers with a history of illness themselves and who are experiencing caregiver-related stress, have a 63% higher mortality rate than their non-caregiving peers.
• Stress of family caregiving for persons with dementia has been shown to impact a person’s immune system for up to three years after their caregiving ends, thus increasing their chances of developing chronic disease themselves.

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Taking Care of the Caregiver

Take this self-test. Ask yourself if you are experiencing some of the early warning signs of caregiver burnout.

Got a life?  My loved one’s needs have become the center of my life and my daily routine. I can’t think past today or make plans for the future.

Social isolation?  It’s increasingly difficult to go out with friend, go to church or participate in social activities. I feel lonely.

Postponing self-care? I put off routine medical and dental preventative care because of my care-giving responsibilities.

Resisting help?  People offer help or suggest programs, but it feels inadequate or intrusive. Nobody can care for him the way I do. I don’t want strangers doing my work. Besides, I would just feel guilty.

Feeling trapped and depressed?  I’m tired all of the time. I hardly ever get an uninterrupted night’s sleep. I feel depressed and numb. I don’t know what to do about it.

If you found yourself agreeing with many of these statements, it may be time to explore adult day services or other types of assistance and support.

 

Resources

National Family Caregivers Association: www.nfcacares
Family Caregiver Alliance, National Center for Caregiving: www.caregiver.org
Denver Region Council of Governments (DRCOG) Free Handbook for Caregivers
(303) 455-1000
Colorado Association of Homes and Services for the Aging: www.cahsa.org
Seniors Resource Guide: www.seniorsresourceguide.com
Colorado Commission on Aging: (303) 866-2800
Eldercare Locator: www.eldercare.gov
www.eldercarelink.com/
www.americanmedical-idcom
www.alz.org/carefinder/index.asp
www.alz.org

Both Jewish Family Services (www.jewishfamilyservices.org)  and Lutheran Family Services (www.lfsco.org) in the Denver area are good sources for case management services.

An important topic to caregivers is behavioral symptoms associated with the disease including the prevalence to wander.

Project Lifesaver: www.co.jefferson.co.us/sheriff
Safe Return, a program of the Alzheimer’s Association:  www.alz.org/safereturn
1-800-572-8566