Family Caregiver Role Growing
According to the National Alliance for Caregiving (NAC) and AARP, family caregiving jumped significantly from 2015 to 2020 and it does not seem like the trend is turning around anytime soon. Now, over 41 million Americans are caring for loved ones. That’s a 16.8% jump in just 5 years. With so many more family members having to care for their elderly loved ones, it is time to take caregiver stress ever more seriously.
Caregiver Stress is Real
Caregivers experience stress just as frequently as anyone else. Unfortunately, they often dismiss it. It’s assumed that caregiver stress is something that comes with the job. People feel that the stress should be tolerated, like learning to cope with long, boring commutes.
Caregiver Stress Has Medical Consequences
In fact, caregiver stress can cause demonstrable medical problems. Those who take on the responsibility of caring for aging or ailing individuals need to stay healthy themselves. They should not fall into the trap of denial. Just because they’re helping others does not mean they won’t need help themselves. Round-the-clock care can lead to running on lack of sleep or lack of food – both causes of declining health. Caregivers do not receive the amount of healthcare monitoring they themselves deliver, so self-care is exceedingly important.
Patients Can Suffer As a Result of Caregiver Stress
When caregivers deny their own health needs, it isn’t just negative for them. Research from UC Berkeley found, patients suffering from dementia will have a shorter life expectancy if their caregivers experience persistent untreated anxiety or depression.
As many as 40 percent of dementia caregivers suffer from depression. Though the problem is widespread, it is rarely discussed. Those who experience caregiver stress should not feel as if the problem is unusual or that it reflects poorly on them as people. The job is fraught with emotional and physical realities that are often sad. These sad realities naturally lead to stress often culminating in depression. This occupational hazard is an issue that needs to be addressed.
Working Through Caregiver Stress
There are many resources available for caregiver stress, including groups that provide social support and therapists who specialize in helping people cope with caregiver stress. Of course, many people will be able to overcome caregiver stress if they reach out to others in order to get some help with their responsibilities.
Home health aides can work with caregivers in order to provide the best possible standards of assistance for the patients. Being a caregiver is difficult, and getting more support can make all the difference in the world.
An Additional David York Agency Service
David York Home Healthcare can refer you to an agency to help you work through the caregiver stress and feelings of depression you may be experiencing. We can also recommend services that target depression in the elderly, should your loved one be experiencing mental health problems. Please contact us for more information on caregiver stress and related issues.
David York Agency Home Healthcare Can Help Seniors in Queens
At David York Agency, we understand the many challenges and risks faced by the aging and elderly and are dedicated to providing care to support them through all of those ups and down. At David York Home Healthcare Agency, extraordinary service is what sets us apart from other companies in Queens that provide in home healthcare services.
DYA we could provide direction as to how to manage the total care of your senior loved one. Whatever your care needs, we are there for you, always striving to exceed your expectations. For more information about David York Agency’s qualified, compassionate caregivers, contact us at (718) 376-7755. A free phone consultation can help you determine what services would meet your needs. We aim to provide you and your loved one with the assistance they need. If you’d like to hear more from us, please like us on Facebook or follow us on Twitter or LinkedIn.
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