1. ISSUES IN
CAREGIVING

2. Care-giving
More than 50 million people provide care for chronically ill family or friends each year
Most women will spend 17 years caring for children and 18 years helping an elderly parent.

3. Who are the family caregivers?
60% of family caregivers are women
30% of family caregivers caring for seniors are themselves aged 65 or over
15% are between the ages of 45 to 54
17% of family caregivers are providing 40 hours of care a week or more

4. Economic Impact of Care-giving
The value of the services family caregivers provide for “free” is estimated to be $306 billion a year.
Women average 11.5 years out of the paid labor force, primarily because of care-giving responsibilities, men average 1.3 years
American businesses loses between $11-$29 billion each year due to employees’ need to care for loved ones 50 years and older.

5. Economic Impact of Care-giving
In 2000 typical working family caregiver lost $109 per day in wages and health benefits due to the need to provide full time care at home
Women who are family caregivers are 2.5 times more likely than non-caregivers to live in poverty
Out of pocket medical expenses for a family that has a disabled member who needs help with activities of daily living are more than 2.5% greater (11.2% of income compared to 4.1%) than for a family without a disabled member.

6. Caregiving
85% of in home care is provided by family members or other unpaid workers.
The caregivers:
29% are adult daughters
23% are wives
13% are husbands
9% are sons

7. Caregiver Burden
Financial, physical and psychosocial problems that family members experience as caregivers
Elderly spousal caregivers with a history of chronic illness themselves who are experiencing caregiving related stress have a 63% higher mortality rate than their non-caregiving peers
Family caregivers have been shown to age prematurely. This level of stress can take as much as 10 years off a family caregiver's life.           

8. Caregiver Burden
Some studies have found that moving the dependent person to a nursing home does not alleviate or diminish the stress

9. ISSUES INFLUENCING CAREGIVING
GEOGRAPHY
MANY CHILDEN DO NOT LIVE IN CLOSE PROXIMITY TO THEIR OLDER PARENTS
EMPLOYMENT TRENDS
WOMEN IN THE WORKFORCE
INCREASING LIFE EXPECTANCY
MORE OLDER ADULTS ARE GOING TO REQUIRE SOME TYPE OF CARE
HEALTH CARE COSTS

10. CONSEQUENCES OF CAREGIVING
POSITIVE
Giving back to your parents
Ensuring quality of care
Increased time spent with loved ones
Role models for grandchildren
Caregiver role can be self-fulfilling and affirming
Source of personal growth

11. CONSEQUENCES OF CAREGIVING
NEGATIVE-Mental, physical and emotional strain:
Depression/Anxiety
Disturbed sleep
Marital/family strain
Social isolation
Financial strain
Feelings of anger, resentment, guilt, hopelessness
Poor immune function

12. ROLE OF THE NURSE ASSESS THE CAREGIVER SUPPORT THE CAREGIVER
ASK ABOUT THIER HEALTH, MAKE SURE THEY ARE TAKING CARE OF THEMSELVES. ASSESS FOR SYMPTOMS OF STRESS, ANXIETY, DEPRESSION
SUPPORT THE CAREGIVER
SUPPORT GROUPS
COMMUNITY RESOURCES
RESPITE
FAMILY COUNSELING

13. Role of the Nurse
Over 40% of family caregivers provide some type of "nursing care" for their loved ones, such as giving medications, changing bandages, managing machinery and monitoring vital signs
Knowledge deficit
One-third of family caregivers who change dressings and manage machines receive no instructions.
Role of the nurse in providing caregiver education is essential!