What Effects Can Family Caregiving Have on Your Mental and Physical Health?
Statistics show that 34.2 million people provide care to an aging family member or friend. You may offer the care because it seems like the right thing to do. It can also be some of the hardest work you’ll ever do.
Homecare in Bryn Mawr PA: Caregiver Burnout
It’s estimated that unpaid caregivers spend as much as 34.5 hours each week providing care. The common care tasks include preparing meals, driving parents around, reminding them to take medications, and keeping the house clean. About 13 hours each month are spent paying bills, managing finances, and scheduling appointments.
If you aren’t careful, caregiver burnout can negatively impact your mental and physical health. Here are some examples of health issues family caregivers experienced.
Depression is Common
After leaving her job in her 50s to care for her ailing father, one woman struggled with the loss of health care and a regular income. When he passed away five years later, she discovered no one wanted to hire a woman who was almost 60. She couldn’t find a job. Her retirement income dwindled, and she couldn’t afford to go to the doctor as she had minimal coverage.
The harder she tried to find a new job, the more depressed she became. After years of being a working woman, she was draining her reserves fast and couldn’t afford to get help for the depression that was worsening.
Putting Off Appointments Can Be Disastrous
Pat spent years caring for a mom with dementia. As her days and nights involved constantly supervising her mom, she didn’t stop to go to the doctor. One day, her mom pushed her out the way and she broke her arm in the fall.
X-rays found the break, and it was going to require surgery to repair it. Subsequent tests also found that her bones were thinning due to osteoporosis. Doctors advised her it was time to focus on improving her own health and hiring help for her mom.
He Found He Just Didn’t Have the Energy Anymore
Rob cared for his dad after his dad fell. He moved in and helped out with the things his dad couldn’t do independently. He worked all day, came home and cooked dinner, and helped his dad with the required medications just before bedtime.
After months of working an eight-hour day and coming home and working more hours, Rob burned out. He woke to the alarm one morning. As he was getting breakfast, his hands went numb and tingly. His heart was pounding, and he felt dizzy and nauseous. When he started having chest pain, he called 911. It wasn’t a heart attack as he feared, he learned he’d just had his first anxiety attack. Doctors said he was doing too much and needed to get his stress under control.
Respite care is one service a senior care agency can help you arrange. While you take breaks to remain healthy and rested, professional caregivers, help your parents. Call a senior care agency to learn more about respite care.
If you or an aging loved-one are considering hiring Homecare in Bryn Mawr, PA, please contact the friendly staff at Suma Home Care.
Call today: (484) 206-4544
Sources:
Ibrahim recently completed a Professional Certificate in Management; He is currently pursuing a Masters in Business Administrations (MBA) at a prestigious university in the UK.
With their passion for helping others and a strong background in customer services and clinical care, Ibrahim and his wife started assisting individuals in their homes.
Since started and operating Suma Home Care in 2010 in the basement of their home, Suma Home Care has provided professionals who work endlessly in providing clients with the highest quality of care, while enabling clients to maintain dignity, comfort and safety in their homes.
Suma Home Care, serves four counties in Pennsylvania, Delaware, Chester, Montgomery and Philadelphia. Ibrahim is firmly connected to his local community and is always looking for ways to give back whenever the opportunity presents itself.
Ibrahim enjoys spending time with his wife and children, travelling and enjoys sports.
Mariama Suma-Keita BSN RN
Born in Sierra Leone west Africa, relocated to America in 1999 from a civil war and settled since in the U.S.A as a Naturalized citizen Graduated from National school of nursing with an associate , and completed BSN in Nursing from Immaculata University graduated with Honor roll Alpha Lambda sigma, After escaping the war served as a refugee nurse in Gambia and Guinea to other displaced refugees before coming to America.
In the states started in Homecare then then transition into hospital, worked in Jefferson hospital as a Registered nurse on Tele and general medsurg floor, also worked in Einstein hospital as an oncology transplant nurse , I realized that I enjoy working with patients so much and believe in quality and compassionate care one at a time dealing with an holistic approach in caring for patients and family in a familiar environment called home , I see the impact and progress when they’re home , it makes them feel relax and progress fast with recovering at home. As a nurse and entrepreneur I understand that dedication to meeting people and families needs is a priority, and able to foster relationships with family and patients that is professional and friendly to help them stay and settled home as a desire.
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