The Caregiver Dilemma
http://www.setthestageforsuccess.com/articles/47201/1/The-Caregiver-Dilemma/Page1.html
Rejoyce Wilson-Herbert
Rejoyce Wilson-Herbert is the founder of National Information Resource Services (NIRS), an organization committed to educating people on the home care industry. Currently residing in Newport Coast, CA, Rejoyce is the General Manager of MemorialCare Home Caregivers. She is also a nationally recognized advocate for the elderly
and is one of the most highly-sought after speakers in her field. She is a proud mother, grandmother and great-grandmother and continues to work hard and help people realize their own goals.By Rejoyce Wilson-Herbert
Published on 10/17/2011
When we love requires the
assistance of a caregiver who is the first person that comes to mind? A family
member, a friend or a trained paid caregiver?
Why would someone choose a specific family member or friend to be a caregiver for a loved one? Could it be because he or she is the person that is most available, or because that is the person we believe is most qualified to be the caregiver? These are questions those of us who maybe given the responsibility of overseeing the well being of a loved one who may require the services of a caregiver.
Why would someone choose a specific family member or friend to be a caregiver for a loved one? Could it be because he or she is the person that is most available, or because that is the person we believe is most qualified to be the caregiver? These are questions those of us who maybe given the responsibility of overseeing the well being of a loved one who may require the services of a caregiver.
When we love requires the
assistance of a caregiver who is the first person that comes to mind? A family
member, a friend or a trained paid caregiver?
Why would someone choose a specific family member or friend to be a caregiver for a loved one? Could it be because he or she is the person that is most available, or because that is the person we believe is most qualified to be the caregiver? These are questions those of us who maybe given the responsibility of overseeing the well being of a loved one who may require the services of a caregiver.
In August 2011 UCLA Health System put out a News Release with the headline: Stressed and Strapped: Caregivers for friends, relatives suffer emotional and financial strain. The article described a study that looked at Californian’s estimated 6 million-plus informal caregivers of all ages and found higher levels of serious psychological distress and negative health behaviors, such as smoking, when compared with the general population.
Of particular concern are the estimated 2.6 million caregivers between the ages of 45 and 64 who may be setting themselves up for an unhealthy future due to higher rates of poor health behaviors, compared with both non-caregiver in the same age range and older caregivers.
This is the "sandwich generation" ... The group of people struggling to meet the needs of both growing children and aging parents often while holding down full time jobs.
According to the writer of the news release: "We may be seeing an association between caregiver and stress, where caregivers are both likely to be seriously depressed and to exhibit certain health behaviors that put them at risk."
For the past forty years I have been actively involved in the health care field. Thirty of those forty years have been spent working with the elderly and those who are home bound. I have seen far too many family members who acted as caregivers that died before the person they were caring for passed.
Family and friends are most likely to have an emotional investment in the family member or friend they are caring for. When the caregiver becomes emotionally involved with the person they are caring for their ability to be objective maybe get lost in their emotional fear of losing the one they love. Stress in many of these cases have led to many illness and medical conditions such as, high blood pressure, diabetes, heart attack, stokes, and even death.
The caregiver dilemma can be solved by family and friends coming together and sharing the responsibility of the person who needs care. The family member or friend who is not able to contribute time to the care of a loved one, could contribute financially so that a Para Professional paid caregiver can be hired to perform some of the care needed. Regardless of who the appointed caregiver is, it is very important that the person be given the opportunity take time away from the responsibility of being the caregiver.
Caregivers must take time out to rejuvenate. Caregivers need to have outside influences, and activities that will create distractions as well as strengthens his or her ability to cope with caring for the person who needs assistant... A caregiver is a person who is willing to contribute to the betterment of mankind in his/her greatest time of need. Serving mankind at home or abroad is the greatest act of love that any human being can demonstrate.
Show love to a caregiver today, because they may be caring for you tomorrow.
Why would someone choose a specific family member or friend to be a caregiver for a loved one? Could it be because he or she is the person that is most available, or because that is the person we believe is most qualified to be the caregiver? These are questions those of us who maybe given the responsibility of overseeing the well being of a loved one who may require the services of a caregiver.
In August 2011 UCLA Health System put out a News Release with the headline: Stressed and Strapped: Caregivers for friends, relatives suffer emotional and financial strain. The article described a study that looked at Californian’s estimated 6 million-plus informal caregivers of all ages and found higher levels of serious psychological distress and negative health behaviors, such as smoking, when compared with the general population.
Of particular concern are the estimated 2.6 million caregivers between the ages of 45 and 64 who may be setting themselves up for an unhealthy future due to higher rates of poor health behaviors, compared with both non-caregiver in the same age range and older caregivers.
This is the "sandwich generation" ... The group of people struggling to meet the needs of both growing children and aging parents often while holding down full time jobs.
According to the writer of the news release: "We may be seeing an association between caregiver and stress, where caregivers are both likely to be seriously depressed and to exhibit certain health behaviors that put them at risk."
For the past forty years I have been actively involved in the health care field. Thirty of those forty years have been spent working with the elderly and those who are home bound. I have seen far too many family members who acted as caregivers that died before the person they were caring for passed.
Family and friends are most likely to have an emotional investment in the family member or friend they are caring for. When the caregiver becomes emotionally involved with the person they are caring for their ability to be objective maybe get lost in their emotional fear of losing the one they love. Stress in many of these cases have led to many illness and medical conditions such as, high blood pressure, diabetes, heart attack, stokes, and even death.
The caregiver dilemma can be solved by family and friends coming together and sharing the responsibility of the person who needs care. The family member or friend who is not able to contribute time to the care of a loved one, could contribute financially so that a Para Professional paid caregiver can be hired to perform some of the care needed. Regardless of who the appointed caregiver is, it is very important that the person be given the opportunity take time away from the responsibility of being the caregiver.
Caregivers must take time out to rejuvenate. Caregivers need to have outside influences, and activities that will create distractions as well as strengthens his or her ability to cope with caring for the person who needs assistant... A caregiver is a person who is willing to contribute to the betterment of mankind in his/her greatest time of need. Serving mankind at home or abroad is the greatest act of love that any human being can demonstrate.
Show love to a caregiver today, because they may be caring for you tomorrow.