News

Alert: Family Caregiving Can Be Hazardous to Your Health by Warren Miller
10/13/2009

For millions of Americans who offer informal care to ill or disabled loved ones, caregiving is a Catch-22. On one hand, the commitment to provide care is a very rewarding personal experience. At the same time, numerous studies have quantified how exhaustion, worry and ongoing caregiver demands can cause chronic stress, depression, anxiety, premature aging, high blood pressure, headaches and back pain.

According to Warren Miller of Right at Home in Rockville and Bowie, Maryland, adult children and spouses are the first people to offer to care for an ill or disabled family member. Caregiving is a very demanding activity and the family caregiver is often ill-prepared to handle the emotional and physical requirements, resulting in emotional, mental and physical health issues.

Family caregivers report having chronic health conditions at nearly twice the rate of non-caregivers (45 % versus 24 %), according to The Commonwealth Fund Biennial Health Insurance Survey.

Compared with non-caregivers, adults who provide 36 or more hours of care weekly are more likely to experience symptoms of depression or anxiety, according to a report in the American Journal of Public Health. For spouses, the rate of occurrence is six times higher; for adult children caring for a parent, the rate is twice as high.

Findings from multiple research studies confirm that women, who represent more than two-thirds of all unpaid family caregivers, are especially susceptible to depression and anxiety symptoms and lower levels of well-being and physical health. Worse yet, family caregivers are also less likely than non-caregivers to practice preventive healthcare and self-care behavior. 

It is important for caregivers to take the necessary steps to ensure that they get the proper nutrition, exercise and respite they need.   Planning is critical as is the help of friends and family.  In-home care can also be a viable option for respite for many families.  To contact Right at Home go to www.RightatHomeMD.net or call (301) 255-0066. 

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