The number of Americans needing nursing home care is expected to increase to 27 million people in the next 30 years. Now that the average cost of a nursing home stay is nearly $85,000 a year, more families are caring for loved ones at home. Caregivers are putting their own health at risk, in order to help others.Many families are doing everything they can to keep loved ones out of nursing homes, and in their own homes
"If anything can help a person stay in their own familiar surroundings, it's well worth it," 91-year-old Helen Coplan told Ivanhoe.
There are 44 million adults in the United States caring for an elderly or disabled person without pay.
"It's very stressful," Sara Czaja, Ph.D., a professor at the University of Miami Miller School of Medicine, explained. "Caregivers may neglect their own health because they’re devoting all their time caring for their loved one."
Studies show up to 70 percent of caregivers have clinically significant symptoms of depression. Caregivers are twice as likely to suffer from a heart attack, diabetes and arthritis compared to non-caregivers the same age. And women who spend nine or more hours a week caring for a sick or disabled spouse double their risk of heart disease.
Studies estimate if we had to pay for the care many relatives are giving at home it would add up to $257 billion a year.
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Caregiver Burnout
Why can't these people be allowed to put in for some compensation?
ReplyDeleteWhat caregivers need is respite. And that sounds great, but sometimes the caregiver worries when he/she isn't there so there is no such thing as respite.
ReplyDeleteQuite true --- caregivers end up with dibilitating diseases many times.
ReplyDeleteIt's the hardest job in the word. Thank God there are good people out there to do it.
Many people give up successful careers to take care of their parents -- for zero pay.
ReplyDeleteCaregivers should be paid a stipend at least. The work they are doing keeps costs down for all taxpayers.
Caregivers are true heros. Hats off to every one of them!
ReplyDeleteIn Florida you can care for your own family member and loved one at home if they do not have an estate. IF they have an estate, Florida puts the family loved one under guardianship, fleeses them, steal their estate, drugs them and isolates them from family. That's what Florida did to my mom! Don't let your loved ones travel near the Sun Shine State!!! DANGER ZONE...
ReplyDeleteCaregivers are abused by the system, more than the people who they care for.
ReplyDeleteThe burnout comes from people forgeting they are people. It's not burnout it's being pushed into poverty.
The drug companies are targeting a new group to drug up.