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Stress and the family caregiver
By Robert P. Dean
The Family Caregiver Alliance defines a caregiver as anyone who provides assistance to someone who is incapacitated in some way and needs help. Formal caregivers are paid care providers, who are associated with a service system, while informal or family caregivers are typically unpaid family members, friends, or neighbors who provide care to a loved one or to someone with whom they have a longstanding relationship. Family caregivers can be the primary or secondary caregiver, full or part time, and can live with or apart from the person to whom they provide care. According to a report recently issued by the U.S. Office of Disability, Aging and Long-Term Care Policy, informal and family caregivers provide 94 million hours of care per week to chronically disabled seniors. This is nearly three-quarters of the 130 million hours of care provided each week to disabled seniors who reside in the community.
The report, entitled, “Does High Caregiver Stress Lead to Nursing Home Entry?”, was released in January 2007 and offers some interesting insights: It observes that seniors with greater informal and family caregiver resources are less likely to reside in nursing homes than seniors who are without these resources. In regards to family caregiver stress, it reports that highly stressed caregivers are more likely to place a family member in a nursing home than less stressed caregivers. In comparing family caregivers reporting high stress levels with those reporting lower stress, the report found that there were few differences in the personal characteristics of the caregivers, but large differences in the amount and conditions of their caregiving. Family caregivers reporting high stress levels are more likely to be the spouse or child of the care recipient. They are also more likely to be in fair or poor health themselves and are likely to have experienced a decline in their own health since becoming caregivers. Highly stressed caregivers provide larger amounts of care, and are far more likely to be caring for seniors who require near constant supervision or exhibit behavioral problems. Physical strain, sleep disruption, and financial hardship all contribute to high stress levels. The report concludes by stating that “Physical strain from caregiving was by far the most important predictor of high levels of stress, but indicators of the disruptive aspects of caregiving — frequently disturbed sleep and recipient problem behaviors — also were important, as was financial hardship. Reducing such stress factors would significantly reduce caregiver stress and as a result, nursing home use for chronically disabled elders.” In discussing strategies for reducing caregiver stress, the report suggests that such strategies could include “greater availability of respite care, caregiver training, and access to chair and bed lifts that might reduce the physical toll from strenuous tasks, assistance in managing recipient behaviors that are disruptive and increase the physical and emotional strain of caregiving, and/or financial assistance.” Here, in Massachusetts, we need to support family caregivers, and help them to honor their loved ones preference to remain at home.
Elder Services offers a number of caregiver services and supports, including information, training and education, respite, assistance with adaptive equipment, individual counseling, and support groups. The Gallagher Alzheimer’s Resource Center is located at our 66 Wendell Avenue address in Pittsfield. If you or someone you know is an informal or family caregiver for someone over 60, please give us a call.
On an unrelated note, I would like to wish everyone a Happy Father’s Day on June 17.
Robert P. Dean is Executive Director of Elder Services