Caregiver's Stress Major Concern for Family Members

Fifty to a hundred years ago, elderly loved ones were taken care of by their family. This care was mainly end-of-life care provided by a daughter or a daughter-in-law. In those days, most women did not work outside their homes. Most long-term health care didn't last that long.

Things have changed over the years, and the consequences of long-term health care have increased dramatically. We live longer and require more extensive long-term health care for much more extended periods of time.

Women have been in the workforce for more than 100 years, but there has been a significant change since 1950. An estimated 79,457,808 women are working in the United States, representing 47.4% of the total labor force. About 70% of women work outside the home. 

Most Women Want to Work Outside the Home

In fact, most women want to work outside the home, according to Gallop. Given a choice between working or staying home to take care of the house and family, 56% of women told the pollster that they would rather work than staying home. 

Given these societal changes, it isn't usually easy for family members to become caregivers. Not only do women seem to enjoy their careers, but most also depend on the income from their employment. It isn't realistic for older adults who think their daughter or daughter-in-law can drop everything and become caregivers. Nor are family members prepared or trained to be a caregiver. It is difficult at best to juggle a career and family with the duties of being a caregiver.

Yet, with about half of all adults reaching age 65 needing some long-term health care before they die, the demands on families create a crisis. Families quickly discover that health insurance and Medicare (including supplements) will not pay for most long-term health care expenses. 

Medicaid is not an answer either. That government program requires the care recipient to have little or no income and assets to qualify. Long-Term Care Insurance will pay for long-term care, but you cannot purchase a policy when a person 'needs it' as these insurance policies are medically underwritten. Most people obtain LTC Insurance in their 50s, well before their health declines and needs care.

LTC Costs Increasing Nationwide

Professional long-term health care, both in-home care and facility care, is expensive. These costs are rising quickly due to increasing demand and high labor costs - Cost of Care Calculator - Choose Your State | LTC News.

By default, family members often become caregivers, and the consequences affect everyone. The physical and emotional demands of being a caregiver can be challenging. 

"Being a caregiver is a unique type of stress, so it's important to recognize what is stressful and use all available resources to minimize that stress," says Dr. Justin Allen, M.D. 

Dr. Allen is the Medical Director at Tembo Health. He is a Board-Certified emergency physician with years of experience caring for seniors and caregivers whose stress and anxiety associated with caregiving have often resulted in their challenges and issues.

Speaking on a webinar hosted by Belmont Village Senior Living, Dr. Allen said stress and burn-out are two areas of concern for caregivers.

"The biggest thing I see again and again is caregivers putting so much responsibility on themselves that they ignore their own health. Remember, you can't be helpful to someone else if you are ill or in distress yourself," Dr. Allen explained.

Stress is Dangerous

Stress is a physiological response to a stressor built into our D.N.A. – the "fight or flight" reactions enabled by the physical changes caused by an adrenaline rush. The perpetual state of stress without a stressor is called anxiety, keeping us in a constant heightened state of awareness. 

Humans are not mentally or physically built to handle prolonged anxiety, which can have several detrimental effects. Stress is linked to the top ten causes of death, including heart disease, cancer, accidents, stroke, C.O.P.D., Alzheimer's, diabetes, pneumonia, kidney disease, and even COVID-19.

One in three caregivers has no background in health care, and 60% of caregivers maintain a full-time job outside of their caregiver role. Many family members are unaware of how tough being a caregiver can be until they start into their role. 

The care recipient is also how stressful and physically demanding caregiving can be and how much a burden it is for their loved one to be a caregiver. The more time goes by, the more dependent the care recipient becomes on their loved one. 

Rapidly changing family dynamics, new and unexpected financial burdens, and feelings of loneliness, isolation, and jealousy are all ongoing causes of stress for caregivers.

Health Problems Due to Stress

There are significant physical and mental indicators of caregiver stress, which include:

• Changes in sleep patterns
• Weight loss/gain
• Chronic pain
• Substance abuse
• Becoming easily irritated or angry
• Feeling sad, tired, overwhelmed, and/or worried
• Losing interest in favorite activities

Caregivers must manage stress for their own well-being and that of the care recipient. However, there are several ways caregivers can work to reduce their own stress levels:

• Being proactive and organized when it comes to planning, talking with loved ones and professionals about expectations, creating a set schedule, and having backup care can help reduce stress.
• Don't shoulder all the burden: find community resources and support groups and consider assisted living options.
• Seek out experts and ask questions, including a list of questions for doctors.
• Use new technologies, such as telemedicine, whenever possible.
• Ask other family members to share the caregiving responsibility when feeling overwhelmed.
• Utilize "Respite Care," which often amounts to short stays at a senior living community appropriate for their care needs. These short respite stays can allow caregivers the help and relief they need when they are overwhelmed. The Family Medical Leave Act (FMLA) can also be helpful when taking leave is needed.
• Know your boundaries and set priorities for your own health and well-being.

Relocation Stress Syndrome

Being cared for can also result in stress. Relocation Stress Syndrome, for example, is common when a person moves from one environment to another. If the care recipient is moving into the home of one of their children, this change can be challenging for them. It is also hard for the caregiver's family, who now share their home with a grandparent. 

Factor in changes that the care recipient face can often make it harder for the caregiver to help. These changes include loss of physical mobility, cognitive decline, and loss of social connections, which affect the care recipient. 

For a caregiver, understanding these forces may help, and seeking out resources to assist can take some of the burden and stress off the caregiver.

"Stress is a huge component of our everyday lives and impacts us all, so it's important to recognize moments that can be stressful as caregivers and be sure to prioritize our own health and reach out to the many resources available so that we can provide the care needed for our loved ones," adds Dr. Allen.

The challenges long-term health care has on family and finances are primary reasons many people prepare for aging before they retire. According to research, most people don't want to place this stress and burden on their families. 

LTC Insurance Provides Access to Quality Care Choices

Professional caregivers and long-term care facilities, like assisted living, provide quality care and give loved ones the time to be family instead of caregivers. Plus, the financial benefits from an LTC policy safeguard income and assets as well as preserve lifestyle and legacy.

Avoiding the crisis before the crisis starts will make aging and future declining health easier for everyone. Some people think they will never experience the need for long-term health care since they are in good health today. 

The fact is longevity is one of the primary reasons people need help with daily living activities or supervision due to dementia. You don't need poor health to need long-term care services. Frailty from old age is one of many reasons people need care. We will see declines in our health, body, and mind as we get older. While you can be any age when you need care, the risk increases as you get older. Being prepared before these changes take place allows you to protect income and assets and reduce the stress and anxiety otherwise placed on those you love.

Most people obtain coverage in their 50s. Not everyone needs Long-Term Care Insurance, but everyone needs a plan.