Why planning our last chapter?

A family caregiver’s job is very demanding, their health too often suffers depriving the ill person eventually of their presence.

“A substantial body of research shows that family members who provide care to individuals with chronic or disabling conditions are themselves at risk. Emotional, mental, and physical health problems arise from complex caregiving situations and the strains of caring for frail or disabled relatives.”

Staying home in familiar surroundings in an independent senior living solution is a preferred approach for most.

A Population at Risk

“An estimated 44 million Americans age 18 and older provide unpaid assistance and support to older people and adults with disabilities who live in the community.1 The value of this unpaid labor force is estimated to be at least $306 billion annually,  nearly double the combined costs of home health care ($43 billion) and nursing home care ($115 billion).

Evidence shows that most caregivers are ill-prepared for their role and provide care with little or no support, yet more than one-third of caregivers continue to provide intense care to others while suffering from poor health themselves. Studies have shown that an influential factor in a caregiverʼs decision to place an impaired relative in a long-term care facility is the family caregiverʼs own physical health.
The caregiver’s job is often so demanding that their health suffers and often dies first unless a good support system is in place..

“A substantial body of research shows that family members who provide care to individuals with chronic or disabling conditions are themselves at risk. Emotional, mental, and physical health problems arise from complex caregiving situations and the strains of caring for frail or disabled relatives.

Resources

Family Caregiver Alliance in cooperation with Californiaʼs Caregiver Resource Center and reviewed by Moira Fordyce, MD, MB, ChB.