Caregiver's Are Not Alone

"I feel very alone on this caregiver journey!   This is not the aloneness of David facing Goliath and feeling scared and powerless. It is the aloneness of being the only David around."
(Caregiver)

Statistics show that more than 54 million people provide some form of assistance to ailing family members and friends.
Some had caregiving experiences which lasted only six weeks,
but others have been caregivers for over 10 years with no end in sight.
They have cared for parents, spouses, siblings, and children.

Carergiver's have to look after themselves or they become physically and emotionally down and find coping very difficult. Some give up activities they enjoy, including families and friends, and then find themselves socially isolated and lonely.

Taking on the role of caregiver is not an easy one. Adjustments, time, and understanding are a must.

Many caregivers are amazing, selfless people who would do anything
and everything they can for their loved ones

Being a caregiver is an education in itself, but Caregivers are also an important part of improving the quality of life for an individual. If you're one of the millions of Americans caring for a spouse, older relative or friend, you probably feel as though you have more questions than answers.

There are 650 groups throughout the United States helping people and their caregivers by planning, developing, and providing in-home and community services. They are a gold mine of useful information. Your best place to start finding answers to these and other questions is to consult the nearest area agency on aging

Caregiver Statistics

If you're a caregiver, you are not alone ... You've probably heard that before,
BUT you may not know just how much company you have.
44.4 million Americans age 18 or older are providing unpaid care to an adult.
If we had to pay for this care, it would cost approximately $257 billion per year.

Caregivers' Unmet Needs

The most frequently reported unmet needs are;

  • finding time for myself (35%),
  • managing emotional and physical stress (29%),
  • balancing work and family responsibilities (29%)

About three in ten caregivers say they need help

  • keeping the person they care for safe (30%)
  • finding easy activities to do with the person they care for (27%)

One in five caregivers say they need help

  • talking with doctors and other healthcare professionals (22%)
  • or making end-of-life decisions (20%)

Caregivers and Work

What Others Caregiver's Have Said

"Self-sacrifice by the 'Carer' is very counterproductive - the 'Cared-for' person will not be able to help if the Carer has a mental breakdown"
(Carer, ACT, Australia)

"One day I was feeling down - sitting there looking at my wife who didnt even seem to know who I was, thinking about the holidays we had and the holidays we had planned but wouldn't have. I asked her if she would like a cup of tea. She looked so happy, smiled and said "yes, please". I felt so good that I was able to make her happy and I thought I'm not going to make myself sad thinking about what we can't do; I'm just going to enjoy these moments that we can have and enjoy. Doing this helped to keep me going while I looked after Julie before she passed away"
(Carer, NSW, Australia)

"My husband was very helpful around the house and he did a lot of the housework. I suppose that I was used to this help. Now that he can't remember what he is doing and can't help, I am finding it very difficult to have to do everything. This is one of the hardest things to get used to. My daughters left homne years ago and now it seems that I have to spend the rest of my life doing everything around the house myself. I was expecting retirement to be a time we could both enjoy. Not a time to look after another 'Child'. He has changed with the grandchildren too. He loves having them come to stay and they would always find something to make or fix in his workshop. They all enjoyed these times together. Now he has stopped doing this and they aren't sure what to do about it. I've explained dementia to them and they understand what is happening. They still find the changes difficult to accept. He's changed from the loving grandfather to a friendly stranger for them"
(Carer, Qld, Australia)