Caregiving can start abruptly with the onset of a serious illness such as a heart attack or stoke; or the need for care can begin when a person experiences slight limitations associated with the normal aging process. In any case, caregivers face a number of challenges. These include learning basic health care skills, coping with physical, emotional, and financial stress; understanding legal options; assessing the service system; and most importantly, I think, learning how to balance conflicting demands while dealing with potentially stressful family dynamics. Some caregivers handle these challenges better than others.
Caregiving responsibilities can lead to feelings of love, generosity, and a strengthening of family ties. Some caregivers are thankful for the opportunity to provide care and to share in the final days of the older person’s life. For others these responsibilities can be overwhelming and lead to isolation, physical illness, financial devastation, and loss of employment. In severe cases, caregiver exhaustion can lead to abuse, the financial exploitation, neglect, or mental or physical abuse of an older or disabled person.
Caregiving, simply stated, is one person giving care to another. I love the following saying “You may be only one person in the world, but you may also be the world to one person”. Isn’t that so true, especially when we talk about caregiving?
Caregiving is a process that often involves a tremendous sacrifice of time, energy, and money. It is often emotionally charged and demanding. Many seniors will, at some point in their later years, be both caregivers and care receivers and it is important to understand the caregiving process.
Caregiving is a global issue, as countries around the world face aging populations. In America, caregiving provided outside of institutions is the backbone of the long-term care system. The value of unpaid care for adults is estimated to be $257 billion annually per AARP and the National Alliance for Caregiving. In addition to its economic impact, caregiving exacts a toll on caregivers, who often suffer compromised health, personal financial strain and intense emotional stress.
