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Caregiver stressCaregivers care for someone with an illness, injury, or disability. Caregiving can be rewarding, but it can also be challenging. Stress from caregiving is common. Women especially are at risk for the harmful health effects of caregiver stress. These health problems may include depression or anxiety. There are ways to manage caregiver stress. What is a caregiver?A caregiver is anyone who provides care for another person in need, such as a child, an aging parent, a husband or wife, a relative, friend, or neighbor. A caregiver also may be a paid professional who provides care in the home or at a place that is not the person's home. People who are not paid to give care are called informal caregivers or family caregivers. This fact sheet focuses on family caregivers who provide care on a regular basis for a loved one with an injury, an illness such as dementia, or a disability. The family caregiver often has to manage the person's daily life. This can include helping with daily tasks like bathing, eating, or taking medicine. It can also include arranging activities and making health and financial decisions. Who are caregivers?Most Americans will be informal caregivers at some point during their lives. A 2012 survey found that 36% of Americans provided unpaid care to another adult with an illness or disability in the past year.1 That percentage is expected to go up as the proportion of people in the United States who are elderly increases. Also, changes in health care mean family caregivers now provide more home-based medical care. Nearly half of family caregivers in the survey said they give injections or manage medicines daily. Also, most caregivers are women.2 And nearly three in five family caregivers have paid jobs in addition to their caregiving.2 What is caregiver stress?Caregiver stress is due to the emotional and physical strain of caregiving. Caregivers report much higher levels of stress than people who are not caregivers. Many caregivers are providing help or are "on call" almost all day. Sometimes, this means there is little time for work or other family members or friends. Some caregivers may feel overwhelmed by the amount of care their aging, sick or disabled family member needs.3 Although caregiving can be very challenging, it also has its rewards. It feels good to be able to care for a loved one. Spending time together can give new meaning to your relationship. Remember that you need to take care of yourself to be able to care for your loved one. Learn some ways to manage caregiver stress and find resources. Who gets caregiver stress?Anyone can get caregiver stress, but more women caregivers say they have stress and other health problems than men caregivers.2 And some women have a higher risk for health problems from caregiver stress, including those who:
Women caregivers also may be less likely to get regular screenings, and they may not get enough sleep or regular physical activity.3 What are the signs and symptoms of caregiver stress?Caregiver stress can take many forms. For instance, you may feel frustrated and angry one minute and helpless the next. You may make mistakes when giving medicines. Or you may turn to unhealthy behaviors like smoking or drinking too much alcohol.6,7 Other signs and symptoms include:
Talk to your doctor about your symptoms and ways to relieve stress. Also, let others give you a break. Reach out to family, friends, or a local resource. How does caregiver stress affect my health?Some stress can be good for you, as it helps you cope and respond to a change or challenge. But long-term stress of any kind, including caregiver stress, can lead to serious health problems. Some of the ways stress affects caregivers include:
Caregivers also report symptoms of stress more often than people who are not caregivers.3 Learn more about how stress affects women's health. What can I do to prevent or relieve caregiver stress?Taking steps to relieve caregiver stress helps prevent health problems. Also, taking care of yourself helps you take better care of your loved one and enjoy the rewards of caregiving. Here are some tips to help you prevent or manage caregiver stress:
If you work outside the home and are feeling overwhelmed, consider taking a break from your job. Under the federal Family and Medical Leave Act, eligible employees can take up to 12 weeks of unpaid leave per year to care for relatives. Ask your human resources office about your options. What caregiving services can I find in my community?Caregiving services include:
The National Eldercare Locator, a service of the U.S. Administration on Aging, can help you find caregiving services in your area. You also can contact your local Area Agency on Aging. How can I pay for home health care and other caregiving services?Medicare, Medicaid, and private insurance companies will cover some costs of home health care. Other costs you will have to pay for yourself.
If you or the person who needs caregiving also needs health insurance, learn about services covered under Marketplace plans at HealthCare.gov. Did we answer your question about caregiver stress?Sources
The Office on Women's Health is grateful for the medical review by:
All material contained on these pages are free of copyright restrictions and maybe copied, reproduced, or duplicated without permission of the Office on Women’s Health in the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. Citation of the source is appreciated. Page last updated: February 12, 2021 Which of the following is classified as crystallized intelligence?Crystallized intelligence involves knowledge that comes from prior learning and past experiences. Situations that require crystallized intelligence include reading comprehension and vocabulary exams. Crystallized intelligence is based upon facts and rooted in experiences.
When older adults can recall a bike after 20 years?When an older adult can recall how to ride a bike after 20 years or how to play a song on the piano that he or she learned at age six, this person is accessing secondary memory. Intelligence refers to the theoretical limit of a person's performance. The capacity for memory storage in humans is limited.
Which of the following populations tend to be the most religious?Mormons are most likely to be very religious (73%), followed by Protestants (50%), Muslims (45%), Catholics (40%) and Jews (18%). Religiosity increases with age: Only 28% of those younger than 30 are very religious, compared with 47% of those aged 65 and older.
What is the difference between activities of daily living ADLs and instrumental activities of daily living IADLs )? Quizlet?The difference between ADLs and IADLs is that ADLs are "Activities of Daily Living" and IADLs is "Instrumental Activities of Daily Living." ADLs are basic self-care tasks such as: eating, bathing, dressing, toileting, mobility, and grooming. IADLs are more complex sets of skills we need in order to live independently.
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