FAMILY CAREGIVER FACTS
In the United States alone, 44.4 million provide care for someone 18 or older.1
Some estimates place that number as high as 54 million. According to the National Family Caregivers Association, more than a quarter of the adult population has provided care for a chronically ill, disabled, or aged family member.
Family caregivers are everywhere:
- 23 percent of households (22 million people) care for someone over 50
- 60 percent of caregivers are female, which means 40 percent are male!
- 46 is the average age of caregivers
- 77 is the average age of care recipients
Source: National Alliance for Caregiving with AARP and MetLife, 2004.
Family caregivers work hard—for little or no pay:
- 41 percent of caregivers have children under 18
- 52 percent are employed full-time
- 37 percent have been caring for more than five years
- 7.5 million caregivers provide 40 hours or more a week of care to persons 18 or older
- $257 billion is the economic value of informal caregiving
- Only $155 million was allocated per state for caregiver services in 2004
Sources: National Alliance for Caregiving with AARP and MetLife, 2004. National Family Caregiver Support Program
Family caregivers suffer from stress:
- Alzheimer’s spouses in their 70s to 80s were 63 percent more likely to die prematurely, from stress
- Family caregivers often wait 4 to 5 years before reaching out for help
- 46 percent of those caring 40 or more hours a week rate their physical strain 4 or 5 on a 5 point scale
- 63 percent rate their emotional stress 4 or 5
- 34 percent rate their financial burden 4 or 5
- 35 percent of those of work outside the home believe caregiving has strained their job performance
- 30 percent say it has strained their marriage
Sources: Journal of the American Medical Association, December 15, 1999, Vol. 282, No. 23; Mary Mittelman, NYU, 2003. National Alliance for Caregiving with AARP and MetLife, 2004.
Family Caregivers Have Health Complications
- Caregivers are twice as likely as non-caregivers to report physical and mental health complication
- 1 in 8 caregivers will become injured as a direct result of caregiving
- 1 in 3 caregivers uses medication for caregiving-related difficulties
- Depression among caregivers is 3 times the norm for people in their age group
- Caregivers suffer from an increased risk of depression, anxiety disorders, diminished immune response, slower wound healing, and a greater incidence of hospitalization than do non-caregiving spouses
Sources: Mary Mittelman, DPH, New York University; Melinda S. Lantz, M.D., American Association for Geriatric Psychiatry. Clinical Geriatrics, Volume 12, Number 11, November 2004
Family caregivers who obtain counseling keep care recipients at home longer
- Counseling led to significant reduction in level of depression
- Those receiving counseling and support could keep their impaired spouses out of nursing homes a median of 329 days longer
Source: Mary Mittelman, DPH, New York University
Members' Comments
Comment on this article and share your thoughts with other
Strength for Caring members.
To comment on an article you will need to
Sign In.
poor info for Mardi
Lin | March 15, 2007 | 1:12 PM
Regarding mardi's situation,
I think you have received not so complete info. Your Mom could benefit from just a few hours a day of caregiving which would relieve your brother and/or you. A reverse mortage doesn't mean you give up your home. You stay in your home, receive a montly income from it and after you die, the lending institution recieves the home. I think it is good that you are taking care of yourself and have some help for your Mom from your rother and his family. But I really think you have not received the most accurate information. I recommend calling more sources, an state ombudsman or agency person for guidance.
Lin
Some food or thought
mardi | February 14, 2007 | 6:19 PM
I recently learned just how much I am worth for being a caregiver..had I been paid in dollars. I am a burned out caregiver after 6 years of 24/7. My brother took Mom to Phoenix with him to stay there for awhile to give me a chance to recuperate. She wants to be in her own home, feels she's being held against her will, has said for me to go down and get her, or have one of my friends go get her. Today when I talked with her she said she would be willing to pay for a cab to bring her home.
Of course she's not being realistic about the situation. There is no one available to live here to provide the care she needs. I can no longer do it because my health is suffering.
I have exhausted all efforts in locating the different agencies that would help . I was quoted prices over the phone and for a fulltime caregiver it would cost $480.00 a day, or $3,600.00 per week. My Mom could never afford that amount of money. For us to obtain a reverse mortgage she would lose her home and have no place to come to. The only alternative is a nursing home which we don't want to do. Meanwhile she will be staying with my brother and his wife which are a buddy system for her. I was doing it all alone. She cannot walk and she's become very depressed. I know they are taking very good care of her and only wish she would realize how difficult it was for me. Even if I would have been paid that amount of money there is no way I could continue.
I don't understand why the seniors and elderly have so little help. Makes no difference what insurance coverage they have. Facts are facts and I can understand why they want to give up. Mom will soon be 95 and her health has rapidly declined. I feel bad for her when she calls herself worthless and feels she's in everyones way. That's how she feels.
Thank you for letting me share.
Mardeanne
