It is not uncommon for family members to lend their extensive assistance as caregivers to friends, loved ones or spouses who are chronically ill, disabled or elderly. Such acts of dedication have led to November being designated National Family Caregivers Month.
According to the National Alliance for Caregiving, it’s estimated services family caregivers provide for free is $306 billion a year. That is almost twice as much as is actually spent on homecare and nursing home services combined.
However, what most fail to realize is this role often comes as a great sacrifice to assist with the everyday activities while still trying to maintain normalcy in one’s own life.
Laura Weiger, program director for the Wellness Community of Central Indiana says caregivers are impacted heavily by the transitions made to better equip those in need of care.
“A lot of things go by the wayside, which can include your health and your physical or spiritual well being,” Weiger said.
Statistics show that a caregiver’s immune system suffers up to three years after caregiving ends thus increasing their own chances of developing a chronic illness.
“While trying to maintain someone else’s lifestyle there are inevitably sacrifices that you have to make and what do those look like?” Weiger said.
Nearly 17 percent of family caregivers are providing 40 hours of care a week or more. Weiger says these sorts of sacrifices may drastically impact employment and the family structure.
For Ethel Wells, daughter and caregiver of her 100-year-old mother Sallie Wells, she says she doesn’t allow her role to demand complete control of her life.
“I realize there are some people who let things get them down, but I believe I’m too blessed to be depressed,” Ethel said.
With more than 50 million people providing care annually, it is common to experience depression, anxiety and stress.
According to the Journal of the American Medical Association, family caregivers with extremely high stress levels have been shown to age prematurely. This level of stress can take as much as 10 years off a family caregiver’s life.
“We would be kidding ourselves if we said we wouldn’t expect to see those things,” Weiger said. “I think we’d be surprised not to because people are going to have this situational depression. It’s just the degree at which we see it.”
Experts say it’s vital caregivers not to lose sight of their own needs and not be afraid to reach out for support while assisting their loved one.
“Part of the adjustment is to embrace and expect that life isn’t going to be as it always was and that’s ok,” Wieger said. “ Many of our caregivers say the experience allowed them to truly realize and understand the importance of life.”
