The Toll of Being a Caregiver

AADT has a good discussion of a recent story about the stress of caring and its impact on physical and mental health.

[C]aregivers, a group whose health is typically much poorer than contemporaries not caring for a loved one, endure stress and health deterioration in relation to the amount and intensity of the care they give. This burden, usually above and beyond work duties and nuclear family obligations, leads to high levels of depression, anxiety and stress. In describing her own experiences, one caregiver highlights how health can decline so rapidly:

Sometimes you didn't have time to take a shower. You didn't eat properly because you're so busy preparing their food and tending to them. You miss doctor's appointments because you can't get somebody to stay with him or you can't (bring) him," [Barbara Redmond, 68, said of caring for her husband for 2 1/2 years before his death.]

They give a very good summary of the statistics.

Carers need practical support for what they do and they need support for themselves. Yet again, this problem is only going to increase as our population ages. Fewer people will have the physical resources to allow them to carry out heavy-duty caring. There will be a time when we realise the cost of doing nothing.

Copyright 2006, Tony Plant Happystance Project