ISSUES IN CAREGIVING

Care-giving More than 50 million people provide care for chronically ill family or friends each year Most women will spend 17 years caring for children and 18 years helping an elderly parent. www.thefamilycaregiver.org

Who are the family caregivers? 60% of family caregivers are women 30% of family caregivers caring for seniors are themselves aged 65 or over 15% are between the ages of 45 to 54 17% of family caregivers are providing 40 hours of care a week or more

Economic Impact of Care-giving The value of the services family caregivers provide for “free” is estimated to be $306 billion a year. Women average 11.5 years out of the paid labor force, primarily because of care-giving responsibilities, men average 1.3 years American businesses loses between $11-$29 billion each year due to employees’ need to care for loved ones 50 years and older. www.thefamilycaregiver.org

Economic Impact of Care-giving In 2000 typical working family caregiver lost $109 per day in wages and health benefits due to the need to provide full time care at home Women who are family caregivers are 2.5 times more likely than non-caregivers to live in poverty Out of pocket medical expenses for a family that has a disabled member who needs help with activities of daily living are more than 2.5% greater (11.2% of income compared to 4.1%) than for a family without a disabled member.

Caregiving 85% of in home care is provided by family members or other unpaid workers. The caregivers: 29% are adult daughters 23% are wives 13% are husbands 9% are sons

Caregiver Burden Financial, physical and psychosocial problems that family members experience as caregivers Elderly spousal caregivers with a history of chronic illness themselves who are experiencing caregiving related stress have a 63% higher mortality rate than their non-caregiving peers Family caregivers have been shown to age prematurely. This level of stress can take as much as 10 years off a family caregiver's life.           

Caregiver Burden Some studies have found that moving the dependent person to a nursing home does not alleviate or diminish the stress

ISSUES INFLUENCING CAREGIVING GEOGRAPHY MANY CHILDEN DO NOT LIVE IN CLOSE PROXIMITY TO THEIR OLDER PARENTS EMPLOYMENT TRENDS WOMEN IN THE WORKFORCE INCREASING LIFE EXPECTANCY MORE OLDER ADULTS ARE GOING TO REQUIRE SOME TYPE OF CARE HEALTH CARE COSTS

CONSEQUENCES OF CAREGIVING POSITIVE Giving back to your parents Ensuring quality of care Increased time spent with loved ones Role models for grandchildren Caregiver role can be self-fulfilling and affirming Source of personal growth

CONSEQUENCES OF CAREGIVING NEGATIVE-Mental, physical and emotional strain: Depression/Anxiety Disturbed sleep Marital/family strain Social isolation Financial strain Feelings of anger, resentment, guilt, hopelessness Poor immune function

ROLE OF THE NURSE ASSESS THE CAREGIVER SUPPORT THE CAREGIVER ASK ABOUT THIER HEALTH, MAKE SURE THEY ARE TAKING CARE OF THEMSELVES. ASSESS FOR SYMPTOMS OF STRESS, ANXIETY, DEPRESSION SUPPORT THE CAREGIVER SUPPORT GROUPS COMMUNITY RESOURCES RESPITE FAMILY COUNSELING

Role of the Nurse Over 40% of family caregivers provide some type of "nursing care" for their loved ones, such as giving medications, changing bandages, managing machinery and monitoring vital signs Knowledge deficit One-third of family caregivers who change dressings and manage machines receive no instructions. Role of the nurse in providing caregiver education is essential!