Posted by Mary on January 17, 2010
Caregiving is still mostly a woman’s job and many women are putting their career and financial futures on hold as they juggle part-time caregiving and full-time job requirements. This is the reality reported in Caregiving in the U.S. 2009, the most comprehensive examination to date of caregiving in America. The first national profile of caregivers, Family Caregiving in the U.S. was published in 1997, and an updated version of the study, Caregiving in the U.S., was reported in 2004.
The sweeping 2009 study of the legions of people caring for younger adults, older adults, and children with special needs reveals that 29 percent of the U.S. adult population, or 65.7 million people, are caregivers, including 31 percent of all households. These caregivers provide an average of 20 hours of care per week. The 2009 reports also begin to trend the findings from all three waves of the study.
Key findings include:
- While caregivers and care recipients continue to be predominately female (66%), they are approximately three years older now than their counterparts were five years ago. Among caregivers age 18 and older, the average age of today’s caregiver is 49, and the average age of today’s care recipient is 69.
- Caregiving lasts an average of 4.6 years (including caregivers of children).
- Although there has been a decrease in the number of hours of care provided in an average week, a higher proportion of caregivers report helping their care recipient get into and out of beds and chairs, assisting with housework, and preparing meals. There is also an increase in the proportion of caregivers who say they need help or information.
- Caregivers say they have increased their use of supportive services, such as outside transportation services and respite services or sitters.
- Approximately three-fourths of caregivers work while caregiving. While this has remained consistent since 2004, there has been an increase in the proportion who say they have had to make a workplace accommodation because of caregiving.
- Although most caregivers say they experience little physical strain, emotional stress, or financial hardship as a result of being a caregiver, there are indications that caregiving is becoming more emotionally stressful for some and that some are experiencing more financial hardship fulfilling this role than five years ago.
An estimated 65.7 million Americans (29 percent of the U.S. adult population) are caregivers, providing unpaid care to a family member or friend for an average of 20 hours per week. This 2009 study provides updates and trends to surveys conducted in 1997 and 2004.
Article By: National Alliance for Caregiving in Collaboration with AARP; Funded by The MetLife Foundation | December 2009.
“I find it fasinating that many of us are Caregivers but we rarely identify ourselves as caregivers, as I read this article I found it hit the nail on the head and thus wanted to share with my audience of clients and friends. This information helps me realize why the work I do is so important. As I heal from my surgery this is my turn to be the person who needs care, I’m thankful I have loved ones available to provide the needed support but I realize not everyone is as lucky as I am.”
Mary
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Posted by Mary on October 20, 2009
Whenever I visit with my senior friend I learn something new. Recently we were discussing getting refills on medications and as we were talking I realized how something so simple becomes so challenging for seniors. Does your pharmacy use automated voice prompts? Is your family member hard of hearing, do they use a hearing aid? These hurtles can be so challenging it can prevent your loved one from getting their prescriptions filled.
I know my own family members would rather drive to the pharmacy to drop off their empty prescription bottles and ask the pharmacist questions in person. But what if your family member is no longer driving? I find many seniors don’t want to be a burden to their family and friends so they may not ask for your help, you will need to take time to listen and anticipate their needs – offer to help them run errands.
The challenge of getting medications refilled impacts the health of your senior loved one. So what about mail order, that seems like a perfect answer to the problem and it might be but keep in mind the usual amount of pills sent will be a 90 day supply. My father was grateful to be on a mail order refill plan through the Veteran’s Hospital but as his medications would change he would have large amounts of excess pills, ointments, creams or dressings and unfortunately we could not send them back.
When I sit with clients and review their ability to manage their medications at home I listen carefully and I always learn something. Next time you’re with your senior parent review the pharmacy labels, are the expiration dates current, when was the last time they were filled, is the medication still medically necessary and does it work or are the side effects bothersome? To make sure the medications are set up correctly and that they are taken regularly you might consider using some of the weekly medication containers or reminders. Use your pharmacist as a resource; you might be surprised what you learn?
If you would like help in supporting your aging parent or senior family member please feel free to call me for assistance.
Mary
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Posted by Mary on September 15, 2009
Are you planning to take a trip with a senior family member? I had the opportunity to take a client to a local Travel Clinic with some mixed results. Our provider was very thorough but as I looked at my friend who is 79 years old I wondered if all the detailed information about potential diseases you “might” get were overwhelming to listen to in one sitting. When we were walking out of the clinic she said she couldn’t take in all the information and it gave her a stomach ache just thinking about it. The staff handed her a folder with several printed pages on what to watch for during her trip and I have to say it was as thick as a small suburban phone book. The intention is to assist members so they have a safe and enjoyable trip but I have to believe that there’s a better way to do this information dump.
My friend said “I’m so glad you were with me, I wouldn’t be able to remember everything, you’re a gift.” What an honor to hear those words and to reassure her that I would review my notes from the staff recommendations as well as read all the material they gave her and create a short summary. I say I’m honored because I’ve always enjoyed my relationship with seniors. When I graduated from nursing school many years ago I was hired at a local nursing home and I found it suited me, later I worked in the home care & hospice industry. I think the reason I always liked working with seniors is because my grand parents died before I was born so I envied my classmates stories about their relationship with grandparents.
I’ve been doing research to help my friend prepare for her trip to Mexico later this year to see her grand daughter get married, she is traveling with family but we want her to be safe and have a fabulous time. As I review the tips and tricks for traveling with seniors I plan to summarize and share what I learn with my blogging audience in my September newsletter so watch for the next E-Newsletter later this month!
Tomorrow is Wednesday, September 16th and it’s the one year anniversary of my father’s death, he had a great life but I miss him very much. My friend Joe sent my sisters and I a note and he reminded us today that last year there were four sisters to support each other and now there is one brother and only three sisters left; we lost our sister Faye (Susie) unexpectedly this spring. So if your parents are still alive and well; hug them, take them out for a while and have a nice visit, you’re really not that busy and do it whether you feel like it or not.
Still missing you Dad, Mom and Susie!
Love,
Mary
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Posted by Mary on September 8, 2009
Dad
Are you up to date on your aging parent’s medical history, what about their medications? Do you know if they are taking their medications on time, the right dose, are the pills expired or should some be discontinued? Perhaps they need assistance and doing the medication set up for them on a weekly basis is one of the best ways to gently start monitoring their health needs, it’s a great touch point for noticing changes that you just can’t put off anymore. We set up my Dad’s pills using a medication container for the week, he liked being able to pull out the daily section and just putting it in his pocket if he was going out for the day.
One of the simple things my Dad asked us to do was create a current list of all his medications so when the nurse asked him what medications he took he would pull out his list which he kept in his wallet. This allowed Dad to maintain his dignity and it was so much better than having him be embarrassed because he couldn’t remember the names of his medications. My Dad would also record his Blood Sugar (for his Diabetes) and his weight due to his CHF (congestive heart failure) into a small spiral notebook that he kept in his shirt breast pocket so he could show his doctor the results for the week or month. I kept all his information in a word document; Dad’s doctors, clinics, medical history, medications and his recent vital signs so it was helpful when my sisters called me with a concern or if I had to call the clinic with a question about his care needs.
This month is the one year anniversary of Dad’s passing and on Sunday I was reminded of how much I miss our time together at Sunday Breakfast. Every Sunday my husband and I would drive to St. Paul to pick up Dad and then drive to one of his favorite restaurants, usually Perkin’s or Joseph’s Restaurant where he knew the waitresses by name. We would buy the Sunday Pioneer Press for Dad because he loved to keep up on local news and he would organize all the sale ad’s for my sister Lisa when he got home and settled in for the day. Sundays were a good time to catch up and he would tell me about his friends and if he had any new appointments at the Veteran’s Medical Center that I needed to attend. Dad was clear about his body and his care but he was also aware of when he needed help; Dad let us be his advocates for health and financial issues because he knew it was hard to “remember” every little detail and he knew he could depend on his daughters.
Perhaps this is a good time to talk to your aging parent about a “little” assistance with their health needs and if you should need a little assistance to get this started then give me a call, I look forward to helping you and your parents. Like a daughter, sister, friend… easing life transitions.
Remembering you with Love Dad!
Mary Elizabeth
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