Caregivers Are At The Greatest Risk For Health Problems
Whether you are caregiving for a family member or friend on a full or part time basis, it should come as no surprise to you that caregivers are at the greatest risk for potential health problems. 
In 2009, caregivers for people with Alzheimer’s provided over 12.5 billion hours of unpaid care. Over 5.3 million people in the U.S have Alzheimer’s disease, and with Alzheimer’s being the seventh leading cause of death across all ages within the U.S. and growing, those numbers are likely to continue to rise.
And Alzheimer’s is only one of many ailments that attribute to the high level of caregiving. With more people finding themselves in the caregiving role, future emphasis will not only be on how to give appropriate care to those that need it, but also on keeping those depended on to stay healthy as well.
A recent study put out by MetLife Mature Market Institute and the National Alliance for Caregiving stated:
- Eldercare is often associated with high risk behaviors such as smoking and alcohol consumption, and in caregivers 18-39, healthcare costs can rise as much as 11 percent hire than their non-caregiver counterparts.
- Employed caregivers find it more difficult than non-caregivers to take care of their own health, or participate in preventive health screenings for things like mammograms.
- Over 10 percent of caregivers will report missing at least one day of work over a two week period compared to their non-caregiver counterparts. Absenteeism is even higher in younger caregiving employees, ages 18-39.
If you do find yourself in a caregiving role, what can you do?
Plan today. In many circumstances, situations will not improve. If you have trouble handling everything today, the situation will only get worse over time. Start by creating a plan to keep you on track in the days and weeks to come.
Ask for help. This is the best piece of advice, especially over time. Turn down extra projects and things that will require a great deal of your time. Turn to friends and family to help in small chores, and hire an in-home caregiving service to help with routine management.
Take care of yourself. Instead of saying you’ll get to something tomorrow, do it today. Sign up for a weekly yoga class, or with a personal trainer at the gym. Make a commitment to creating your own daily routine, giving yourself time and freedom every day.
