Mon. 7th Aug. 2017
The statistics on caregiving are ominous. While the tasks are done with love and attention, they are not without a price. The following are some citations from the literature. As a geriatric caregiver, here are some of the outcomes I see in families every day:
- Caregiving for someone with dementia impacts the caregiver's immune system for up to three years after the end of the caregiving. If it can have this impact three years later, what is it doing to you day-to-day? Keep yourself healthy. Eat right. Get enough sleep. Don’t forget your own healthcare needs. Talk to others. Do not isolate yourself. Ask for help.
- At least half of caregivers report that they have depressed feelings. It is ok to seek out mental health professionals to talk about the stress of caregiving. Your body is in fight or flight mode 24 hours a day, and it takes its toll. You are not weak if you reach out to others, take medications or take breaks. You are human. You are not a robot.
- Caregiving stress is daily and never stops. This extreme stress may shorten your life span by as much as ten years. While you dedicated your life to the safety and well being of the person in need of assistance, your body is on constant high alert. Your body produces stress hormones that are turned on 24/7. These chemicals take a toll on all body systems and shorten the life span of the caregiver.
- You are not alone. There are millions of people in the same or similar position to yours. Reach out to networking and advocacy groups. It cannot change the situation you are in but hearing other's stories, situations and options will help keep you healthy.
Caregiving is tough, loving work. You may not be able to do it for any number of reasons. That does not make you a bad person. It makes you a realistic person. If you are a caregiver locally or long distance, the stress is the same. You must stay intact to be able to provide your loved one what they need. Reach out to us here at Charism if you need help. You are not alone.