Caregiving for a frail, ill, or disabled family member is often a rewarding but demanding role. Tapping into supportive services including respite care can provide a vital break and keep family caregivers going strong.
One of society’s great assets is the many family members who provide care to ill or disabled relatives. These caregivers, sometimes called an informal caregiver, are unpaid individuals (for example, a spouse, partner, family member, or friend) involved in assisting others who need some degree of ongoing assistance with everyday tasks on a regular or daily basis. These unpaid caregivers save Medicare, Medicaid, and other health care payors billions of dollars annually.
According to AARP, about forty-eight million individuals provide unpaid care to an adult family member or friend. The estimated economic value of their unpaid contributions is $470 billion each year.
The majority of caregivers are middle-aged adult children and older spouses who care for a parent or spouse with functional limitations. Although family and other informal (unpaid) caregivers perform an important service for society and their care recipients, they often do so at considerable financial, emotional, health and well-being cost to themselves.
Whether it is my professional role, or simply my current stage of life, my friends and acquaintances increasingly talk with me about their caregiving roles and the associated stresses.
Some examples include an only-child adult daughter providing care for her aging parents while holding down a full-time job, and an older adult whose spouse suddenly needs unexpected direct care due to a debilitating illness. There is a sibling group who each have different opinions on the best care arrangements for their parents, and a senior providing care for an adult child with significant physical and intellectual disabilities. Each of these caregivers in my circle of friends are weary.
None of these caregivers express a desire to step away from their caregiving role. In varied forms, each talk about what an honor it is to provide support and care for their loved one. They also talk about the physical and emotional strain of caregiving. For some, the financial strain of lost wages due to missed time at work adds to their burden.
The US Centers for Disease Control (CDC) reports caregiver burnout is a public health priority. Noting that informal, unpaid caregivers (family members and friends) are the backbone of long-term care provided in people’s homes, the health of caregivers is a risk due to several factors.
While aspects of caregiving can be rewarding, the CDC reports caregivers can also be at increased risk of negative health consequences. Those risks may include depression, difficulty maintaining a healthy lifestyle and staying up to date on recommended clinical preventative services. A recent study by the National Alliance for Caregiving and AARP found 1 in 4 US caregivers says caregiving has made their own health worse.
Caregiving issues impact a growing percentage of families. Approximately one in four U.S. adults 18 years of age and older reported providing care or assistance to a person with a long-term illness or disability, according to data from CDC. As America’s population ages, that number will only increase. By 2030, an estimated 73 million people in the United States will be 65 years or older. Many will require daily assistance from at least one caregiver to maintain quality of life, independence, and physical and social well-being. More than two-thirds of the US population will likely need help with tasks at some point in their lifetime.
The physical and emotional demands of caring for a loved one with a serious illness can be exhausting and even lead to burnout. It is important for caregivers to maintain their own health and well-being. If you or someone in your circle of family and friends are a caregiver. You do not have to go it alone. There are supportive services and resources to assist you in your caregiving role.
From in-home services and supports to caregiver respite programs, there is a wide range of services and resources to support local caregivers. You can learn about available resources and talk to an aging and disability information and access expert by calling the Info-Line for Aging and Disability at (800) 654-2810.