You are your aging parent’s caregiver. This is a role most adult children find themselves playing. It’s only natural. After all, your parent cared for you for many years, so now it’s your turn. This is a job of love, no question about it. But at what cost?
Caregiving comes at a high cost you may not see. It can take its toll, physically, mentally, and financially, sometimes more than you realize. Here are four caregiving statistics that every adult child should know.
1 in 5 Caregivers Have Fair or Poor Health
One in 5 adult children that care for their aging parents report their health is fair or poor because of caregiving. This is from a recent AARP study.
This is a very important statistic and should be one of the reasons you stop and take a look at your situation. You may be one of the 5. Keep reading.
40% to 70% have clinically significant symptoms of depression
Family caregivers have a very high rate of depression. This is from all the stress that caregiving entails. It is mentally and physically exhausting. There is little or no time for you, no free time for you. No time to sleep, no time to exercise. No time for hobbies or friends. It can lead to isolation, both physical and emotional.
This fact about family caregiving should make you stop and take note. The fact that so many suffer from symptoms of depression is staggering. This is the reality of caregiving and its toll.
You can get burned out and emotionally and physically sick, with long term health consequences.
Caregivers spend an average of $7,000 out-of-pocket
Adult children that provide care for their aging parents spend an average of $7,000 out-of-pocket. This is huge and many caregivers don’t even have that much in savings, which can lead to financial strain. Caregivers also reduce their work hours by 20% on average and 20% quit work entirely to provide care. Caregivers spend much more than the average $7,000 and leave work or reduce hours so much that they can’t even afford to keep providing care.
Being a caregiver is physically, emotionally, and financially draining. It takes a lot out of you and it can have long term consequences on your health. You need to be aware of these consequences if you are a caregiver.
Caregiving Is Not Forever
Caregiving is temporary. As a caregiver, you need to give yourself a break and take time for you. If possible, find someone that can give you a break or hire a part-time caregiver for a few hours a week. Caregiving takes its toll and the only way to stop that is to give yourself a break.
The bottom line is caregivers are exhausted from the constant worry and lack of sleep and time for themselves. Caregiving is hard on the body, but also on the wallet. Adult children caregivers find themselves often not able to afford the expenses, so they quit work or work less, which then leaves less income. It’s a very big problem.
If you are caring for an aging parent, please stop reading this and take note. You are at high risk for many of these statistics and they can happen to you.
Don’t be another statistic. Take action today and find a solution, like Gera Home Care. The point is to take care of yourself as well as your parent.