Family caregivers (also known as “carers”) are “relatives, friends, or neighbors who provide assistance related to an underlying physical or mental disability but who are unpaid for those services.”
A recent study says that 26.5% of all American adults today are family caregivers. A 2012 report by the Alzheimer’s Association states that 15 million of those family caregivers are caring for a person with Alzheimer’s or another dementia. The value of the voluntary, "unpaid" caregiving service provided by caregivers was estimated at $310 billion in 2006 — almost twice as much as was actually spent on home care and nursing services combined. By 2009, about 61.6 million caregivers were providing "unpaid" care at a value that had increased to an estimated $450 billion. It is projected that nearly one in five United States citizens will be 65 years of age or older by the year 2030. By 2050 this older population is expected to double in size.
Family caregiver experience
A 2011 survey of family caregivers in the United States found that almost half (46%) take on tasks that are traditionally considered “nursing” or “medical,” such as injections, wound care, and operating medical equipment and monitors. While the family caregivers’ assumption of such responsibilities is not new, the frequency may have increased over time due to shorter hospital stays, adults living longer with significant ailments, and technological and health care improvements allowing more nursing or medical care to be provided at home. This trend has implications for families, patients, family caregivers’ workplaces, health care organizations, and insurers, including Medicare and Medicaid. A survey by AARP in 2010 states that "29% of the U.S. adult population, or 65.7 million people, are caregivers, including 31% of all households. These caregivers provide an average of 20 hours of care per week."
No wonder we mark NationalFamily Caregivers Month ... So for the New Year, I wish to express my gratitude for all the members of Team Dan — family, friends and professionals alike — because caregiving is a team effort.
Written with unflinching honesty and profound compassion, this book serves as both a guide and a source of solace for caregivers, families, and anyone touched by dementia.
Getty ImagesMy ex-husband and I separated, and I moved into an apartment near our family ... Social narratives still expect mothers, particularly primary caregivers like me, to stay in the family home.
Let’s talk about ways to improve family communication, with strategies that help teens talk and open-up more with parents/caregivers ... Let’s talk about ways to improve family communication, with ...
“Our amazing caregivers work tirelessly to provide exceptional care, and we are thrilled to see families like the Xiongs start their journey with us.” ... The Times-Standard’s efforts to reach the family on Friday were unsuccessful.
‘Barbie Girl’ shared pillow fights, holiday fun, trips to the movies, coffee runs, and dancing with her caregivers and housemates whom she loved like family.
"Every age group is facing problems and people react to it ... Whoever meant to bear the burden of domestic responsibilities and caregiving for the family is prone to a range of mental illnesses that usually go unnoticed," President Murmu stated ... ....
They built a house in a good school district, with room for a big family, and painted it a cheerful lavender ... They had family members who were able to serve as caregivers, which prevented Arlo and his brother from being put in foster care.
But Shojai's case shows how complicated those decisions can be, and how profoundly they affect the families left behind ... She said that she and her family are afraid of him, and that caregivers who will be in charge of him should be too.
Park Ridge, IL - Angel Caregivers, a trusted provider of elder care in Park Ridge, IL, is reaffirming its commitment to supporting families by offering compassionate, highly skilled home care aides for aging loved ones in the area.
“We are happy that funds are now available to help kinship caregivers provide safe and stable homes in familiar environments,” said Cory Pederson, Health and Human Services children and family services director.
Our long-term care services are designed to help seniors live independently while easing the caregiving burden on families.” ... without families having to bear the full weight of caregiving alone.
... seniors and their families across Newark ... With a team of highly trained caregivers, Astir Home HealthCare is dedicated to enhancing the lives of seniors and supporting the families who care for them.
