Caregiver Concerns

Question: My mother is in her late 70s and has been in good health. She lives in her own home and is quite independent. However, she recently fell and fractured her hip. She was in a short-term rehabilitation facility for several weeks and then received care in her home from the visiting nurses. Her hip is coming along well, but she still needs help bathing and I suddenly find myself in the role of her caregiver. I’m new to this dynamic, but I would guess there are many people in a similar role?

Answer: Yes, you are one of many caregivers across the country! Family caregivers, sometimes referred to as informal caregivers, provide tremendous amounts of support to related individuals. Without caregivers like you, many elders and adults with disabilities would not be able to live independently.

You might find it interesting to know who makes up our country’s caregivers. In November 2009, The National Alliance for Caregiving released a report, “Caregiving In The U.S.,” that provides great details about caregiving. The report, which defined caregivers as unpaid individuals who provided care for a friend or relative over 18, found that:

• Caregivers are usually female
• On average, caregivers are 48 years old
• Over one-third of caregivers care for a parent
• On average, caregivers have been in their role for 4½ years
• Caregivers on average spend 20 hours per week providing care

You mentioned that you were helping your mother to bathe. Bathing, eating, dressing, toileting, and transferring (getting up from a chair or bed) are considered Activities of Daily Living (ADLs). The report by The National Alliance for Caregiving found that over half of caregivers help a loved one with an ADL. Similarly, caregivers usually help with Instrumental Activities of Daily Living (IADLs), which include shopping, housework, meal preparation, managing finances, using the telephone, and taking medication. My guess is that if you are helping your mother bathe, you are also helping her with an IADL.

As you already know, caregiving can be a lot of work. Approximately half of caregivers who were surveyed indicated their caregiving burden was either high or moderate. With this in mind, I would suggest that you monitor your own level of stress as it relates to caregiving. It is not uncommon for a caregiver’s own health to suffer from the responsibility of caring for someone else. And, as the study indicated, the longer a person is a caregiver, the more likely he or she will report “fair” or “poor” health.

As you can see, there are many caregivers like you who are helping family members. This fact doesn’t make caregiving easy, however. If you have questions about caring for your mother, please don’t hesitate to call Mystic Valley Elder Services’ Eldercare Advisor or Caregiver Specialist. They can be reached at 781-324-7705.