Caregivers Encouraged to Take Better Care of Themselves

category: MyDocHub,Nutrition & Wellness
by Priscilla,

Over 44 million Americans provide care for an aging loved one, and we’re fast approaching a tipping-point – the number of family caregivers is expected to skyrocket with the aging of 78 million Baby Boomers. Caregiving can be very rewarding, but the day-to-day tasks are demanding and require a balancing act that can put the caregiver’s own health and well-being in jeopardy. Caregivers whose own health is at risk because of the care they provide suffer from conditions like depression and stress, and often miss their own doctor’s appointments or health screenings.

The Evercare Study of Caregivers in Decline is the first comprehensive study to look at the health effects of caregiving on the caregivers themselves and what services they felt would help them cope, say proponents.

According to the recently released study, the stress and worry of caregiving lead millions of caregivers to neglect their own physical and mental health, resulting in depression, extreme fatigue, poor eating and exercise habits and greater use of medications. More than half (53 percent) surveyed said this downward health spiral also negatively affects their ability to provide care.

The study was released by Evercare, a leading provider of health plans for people who have chronic or advanced illness, are older or have disabilities, and the National Alliance for Caregiving (NAC), the nation’s leading research authority on caregiving. There are more than 44 million caregivers in the U.S., with 21% of households containing at least one caregiver, and as the “Baby Boomers” turn 65, that number is expected to surge, they report.

A previous study conducted in 2004 revealed 2.5 million caregivers in fair or poor health, and Evercare and NAC recognized the importance of specifically taking a comprehensive look at the impact of caregiving on caregivers’ own health and wellness.

An alarming nine in 10 (91 percent) caregivers surveyed — all in fair/poor health and having seen a decline in their health as a result of caregiving. Respondents cited stress as the most pervasive health problem in their lives, stemming from worry about their loved one’s condition as well as being overwhelmed with caregiving responsibilities. In focus groups, caregivers recount how the stress emerges in various physical ailments, including increased blood pressure, heart attack scares, arthritis flare-ups, acid reflux, headaches and other symptoms.

Ninety percent say they worry more or feel more stress now than they did prior to becoming caregivers, and respondents cited lack of energy/sleep (87 percent), pain/aching (60 percent), and weight gain or loss (38 percent). As a result of this stress, 10 percent of respondents reported increased misuse of prescription drugs or alcohol and more than half (51 percent) report taking more medications. Moreover, 82 percent say that their sleeping habits are worse than before, while 63 percent say their eating habits and 58 percent say their exercising habits are worse than before.

The Evercare Study also found that caregivers often replace their own health maintenance with caregiving. Nearly three in four (72 percent) admit they have not gone to the doctor as often as they should, and more than half (55 percent) have missed doctors’ appointments. One in five women report having mammograms less often (21 percent) and a similar proportion of men are not as current with their prostate exams as they once were (23 percent). Also, 33 percent say they get their teeth cleaned less often, 29 percent neglect periodic vision tests, and 26 percent skip periodic physical exams.

“Caregiving has to include caring for yourself,” said Dr. John Mach, CEO of Evercare. “The fact that caregivers sacrifice their own well-being while caring for a loved one underscores the need for greater awareness around the issue and for programs that support their health needs.”

Among the other key findings of the study: Caregivers feel alone and often don’t ask for help, although they often have family members or friends who could help them. The large majority (75 percent) feel they had no choice in taking on their caregiving responsibility and nearly seven in ten (69 percent) spend less time with family and friends.

Half of those surveyed (51 percent) would like to talk to someone who could help them identify tasks that other family members or friends could be doing, and teach them how to gain that cooperation. Respondents think an outside consultant could help them approach their families in a different way, or teach them to delegate and prioritize their tasks better.

Thirty-seven percent spend more than 40 hours a week providing care, and 30 percent spend 20-39 hours per week doing so and more than one-third of those surveyed (37 percent) report spending less time at their jobs. And, those who work full-time are more apt than others to say their eating habits are worse than before (73 percent vs. 53 percent for part-timers and 62 percent for those retired or not employed). For more information about Evercare, call 1-866-772-0859 (TTY 1-888-685-8480) or visit www.evercarehealthplans.com.

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