caregiver fact sheet final with services mrd feb 5 2016
TRANSCRIPT
INTEGRITY HEALTHCARE CONSULTANTS
``````````````````````````````````` PROFILE OF FAMILY CAREGIVERS Fact Sheet #2
FACT SHEET #1
WHO ARE CAREGIVERS?
A caregiver is an individual who provides informal care and support for a family member or friend who:
Lives with a long term or chronic illness � Has a physical or mental disability � Requires support for age-‐related needs � Experiences diminished physical or cognitive abilities
There are over 2 million informal caregivers in Canada. Women tend to assume primary caregiving responsibilities more often than their male counterparts. In Canada women represent 54% of caregivers, and are more likely to spend 20 or more hours per week on caregiving tasks (Sinha, 2013).
Caregiving is often a long-‐term commitment. A 2012 Statistics Canada survey of informal caregivers reports that of the majority of caregivers in Canada, 89% had been providing care to one or more family members for a year or longer (Sinha, 2013).
Informal caregiving can involve a wide range of responsibilities, including: providing transportation, managing finances, maintaining household tasks and repairs, managing appointments, assisting with medical treatments, and providing personal and emotional support. Aging parents: Elder care is one of the primary types of informal caregiving, and is usually provided by adult children. According to the Canadian Institute for Health Information, “few seniors who are receiving publicly funded long-‐term home care are able to manage alone. In a sample of 131,000 home care clients age 65 and older, only 2% were coping without an informal caregiver (CHHI, 2010, p.1 ). Spouse / Life Partner: Caregiving can involve tending to a spouse or life partner who is experiencing a physical or cognitive health condition. Statistics Canada reports, for example, that cancer was the leading reason behind spousal caregiving in Canada in 2012 (Sinha, 2013). Family members and mental illness: Nearly 8% of the 4 million family caregivers in Canada are providing care for a family member experiencing a mental illness (Mental Health Commission of Canada, 2015).
“Longer life expectancies and the transition of baby boomers into their senior years have meant that more Canadians may require assistance and care related to aging, now and into the future.” -‐Sinha, 2013, p 4. DID YOU KNOW… “At some point in their lives, nearly half (46%) of Canadians aged 15 and older, or 13 million Canadians, have provided care to a family member or friend with a long-‐term health condition, disability or aging needs.” -‐Sinha, 2013, p.3.
COMMON TYPES OF INFORMAL CAREGIVING
2
Lorem Ipsum CAREGIVER STRESS
There is little doubt that caregivers can provide an improved quality of life for recipients, particularly for elderly family members who might otherwise require placement in institutionalized settings. As well, caregiving has increasingly become an important means of reducing excessive health care and social system costs for care recipients. The demands of caregiving, however, can place a considerable strain on a caregiver’s work/life balance. Often they must manage competing demands of providing caregiving support while also balancing paid work and raising a family.
Effects on paid work: Caregiving can have multiple effects on a caregiver’s paid employment. Research has shown that employed caregivers can experience disruptions to their work productivity, reductions in paid work hours, a loss of employment benefits, and diminished opportunities for career advancement. These effects tend to be more prevalent among caregivers who invest several hours a week caring for a family member (Statistics Canada, 2012).
Financial effects: Often the financial demands of caregiving can impose financial hardship for caregivers. Many caregivers incur out-‐of-‐pocket expenses for transportation, rehabilitation services and medications. In 2012, 28% of caregivers supporting children, 20% caring for spouses, and 7% of caregivers supporting a parent reported experiencing financial hardship as a result of their caregiving responsibilities (Turcotte, 2013).
Effects on family life: The responsibility of caregiving, often a full time job in itself, can mean less time spent with children and significant life partners. Statistics Canada reports that approximately half of the caregivers surveyed in 2012 with children under the age of 18 felt that their caregiving responsibilities reduced the time spent on family tasks and activities. Half of the 65% of caregivers with life partners reported spending less time with their partners (Sinha, 2013).
THE EFFECTS OF CAREGIVING
HOW WE CAN HELP
At Integrity Healthcare, we offer a comprehensive list of expert support services for caregivers and their family members. Our customized services include:
• Respite relief for caregivers • Home care services • Companionship for your loved one (in home or in hospital) • Family mediation • Medication review • Expert guidance with Personal Health Portfolios and Living Wills • Comprehensive care planning • In-‐person navigation and advocacy support by an RN (in the home, hospital or doctor’s office) • Therapeutic education • Home safety assessments/safety equipment demonstration and installation • Coordination of integrated care with all medical professionals (case management)
3
3
CAREGIVER STRESS
Without an appropriate support system, the role of caregiving can become overwhelming. When a caregiver’s responsibilities exceed his or her ability to manage them effectively, there is often a high potential for stress and burn-‐out.
Caregiver stress (also known as “caregiver distress” or “caregiver strain”) is defined as “the overall impact of physical, psychological, social, and financial demands of caregiving” (CIHI,2010, p. 3).
SOME IMPORTANT STATISTICS ON CAREGIVER STRESS
• A 2012 Statistics Canada study found that while most caregivers surveyed were able to effectively manage their caregiving responsibilities, “28% found providing care somewhat or very stressful and 19% of caregivers indicated that their physical and emotional health suffered in the last 12 months as a result of their caregiving responsibilities. In both cases, these consequences were magnified with the intensity of care and the number of hours per week” (Sinha, 2013, p. 13).
• The Canadian Institute for Health Information reports that “nearly 20,000 informal caregivers (16%) of seniors receiving home care reported distress related to their role. The rates of distress were significantly higher among those providing more than 21 hours of care per week: 28%” (CIHI, 2010, p. 1).
• A study conducted by the Canadian Institute for Health Information found that caregiver distress was most strongly associated with two factors: the level of cognitive impairment of the family member, and the number of hours required to care for the recipient. (CIHI, 2010)
SIGNS & SYMPTOMS OF CAREGIVER STRESS:
• Emotional: Feelings of isolation, anxiety, distress, anger or depression • Physical: Declining physical health (including weight loss or gain, exhaustion, disruptions in sleep
patterns) • Lifestyle changes: Abusing drugs or alcohol; losing interest in hobbies or social activities
CONSEQUENCES OF CAREGIVER STRESS & BURN-‐OUT
Caregiver stress can pose considerable consequences for the well-‐being of caregivers and care recipients alike. Research has shown that caregivers with high levels of “role overload” are often in “poorer physical and mental health and make greater use of Canada’s health care system” (Duxbury et al., 2009, p. 35). Caregiver stress also has implications for the well being of care recipients. In the case of seniors, for example, there is a higher risk of being admitted to a residential care facility or a nursing home if a caregiver is unable to carry out his or her role. The Canadian Institute for Health Information notes:
A sustainable health care system relies on the informal support network to help keep seniors at home and avoid institutionalization for as long as possible. Informal caregivers who are at higher risk of distress may require additional resources or respite to continue providing care” (CIHI, 2010, p. 15).
ADDITIONAL CAREGIVER INFORMATION RESOURCES Helpguide.org http://www.helpguide.org/ The Family Caregiver.com http://www.thefamilycaregiver.com/ontario/caregiving/caregiving.php Canadian Caregiver Coalition http://www.ccc-‐ccan.ca/ Canadian Mental health Association (Ontario) https://ontario.cmha.ca/
REFERENCES
Canadian Institute for Health Information (2010). Caregiver Distress in Brief. Ottawa: Canadian Institute for Health Information.
Duxbury, L., Higgins, C., and Schroder, B. (2009). Balancing Paid Work and Caregiving Responsibilities: A Closer Look at Family Caregivers in Canada. http://www.cprn.org/documents/51061_EN.pdf
Mental Health Commission of Canada. (2015). Informing the Future: Mental Health Indicators for Canada, Ottawa, ON: Author.
Sinha, Maire. 2013. "Portrait of caregivers, 2012." Spotlight on Canadians: Results from the General Social Survey. No. 1. September. Statistics Canada Catalogue no. 89-‐652-‐X.
Turcotte, M. 2013. “Family caregiving: What are the consequences?” Insights on Canadian Society. Statistics Canada Catalogue no. 75-‐006-‐X, September
COPING AND STRESS PREVENTION: STRATEGIES FOR CAREGIVERS
Prepared by: MacMillan Research Design – www.macmillanresearch.com
While caregiving can be a deeply rewarding experience for both caregivers and recipients, it often comes with unique challenges and stressors. Adopting healthy coping strategies is key to managing your tasks and preventing burn-‐out. Ask for help. Accept any offers for support that might provide you with some respite. Find Balance. Try to take at least a half an hour a day to “recharge”, relax or engage in a hobby. Reach out. Join caregiver support groups in your community, or online. Take care. Don’t neglect your own health. Get plenty of rest, try to follow healthy eating habits, and where possible, find time for light fitness activities.