Caretaking & What To Know About It by

Who are the caretakers?

alisonkeeney1 — 2024-09-22 14:52:52 UTC

In America, up to 81 % of the caretakers are primarily women. Even in heterosexual relationships where the woman works too, women still care 40% more than their male partners.

Financial Strains

alisonkeeney1 — 2024-09-22 14:59:37 UTC

78% of caregivers are paying out of pocket costs due to caregiving

Caregiverd are spending 7,000 per year out of their own pocket.

1 in 6 caregivers have reduced their retirement savings

Caretaking Stressors

alisonkeeney1 — 2024-09-22 15:06:59 UTC

Signs of caregiver burnout:

anxiety, depression, irritability, feeling tired and run down, difficulty sleeping, trouble concentrating, feeling resentful, drinking, smoking, eating more, neglecting responsibilities, cutting back on leisure time.

alisonkeeney1 — 2024-09-22 15:39:57 UTC

About 1 in every 4 milennials is a caregiver now

About 6 percent of Gen Z caregivers in 2020

AARP has reported that 6 Billion dollars of unpaid labor each year goes to caretaking.

How Much Does Care Cost

alisonkeeney1 — 2024-09-22 15:44:27 UTC

People in the United States spend 4,000 to 4,500 a month for in-home care services.

Generally it would be between 200 and 350 per day for care in the home.

Long Term Care Insurance

alisonkeeney1 — 2024-09-22 15:59:51 UTC

in 2021, about 30 percent of applicants age 60 to 64 were denied long term care insurance. For applicants 70 to 74, the rejection rate was 47 percent. Even people in their 50s, more than one in five were turned down.

alisonkeeney1 — 2024-09-22 16:05:43 UTC

Physical abuse, verbal abuse, sexual abuse, financial abuse, and caregiver neglect are all forms of abuse.

Most elder abuse takes place at home. Family members commit elder abuse in nearly 6 in 10 cases.

The signs:

unexplained bruises, cuts, scars

lack of basic hygiene or food and water

untreated bedsores

signs of unpaid bills

dismissive attitude about injuries

unreasonably fearful

lack of interest in social contacts

How To Prevent It

alisonkeeney1 — 2024-09-22 16:08:42 UTC

Every state has a designated Adult Protected Services. Contact Them

Do not confront the alleged abuser without putting the older adult into a safe place first, or you put the older adult at risk.

Make sure the older adult has a trusted family member as their Power of Attorney to take care of financials in case financial abuse were to happen, they are more protected.

alisonkeeney1 — 2024-09-22 16:13:29 UTC

A new research study shows that those who regularly tended to the needs of a family member enjoyed a 9 month extension in life expectancy. To do so it is encouraged to: make your own health a priority, draw strength from your faith, and stay social.

alisonkeeney1 — 2024-09-22 16:32:01 UTC

Caregiving gives you a sense of purpose and contribution to another's well-being.

It connects you with your humanity and allows you to see your loved one fully for who they are. Many report growing even closer to their loved one. This is also a time to resolve any negative that there may have been. Many caregivers report having a new outlook on life. You may also learn what is important to you when you get to be older and how you can better set up your future for yourself and your family.

Medicaid

alisonkeeney1 — 2024-09-22 17:10:12 UTC

In California, Medi-Cal (California's Medicaid) pays about $17,236 for an individual and about 23,336 for a couple.

If you are and older adult or disabled, your assets must not total more than 2,000 for an individual or 3,000 for a couple.

Assets such as your home are not included as well as one vehicle, personal belongings, and life insurance policies.

In Home Supportive Services IHSS may cover non medical assistance such as bathing, grooming, and dressing. Housecleaning, meal preparation, grocery shopping, and laundry.

alisonkeeney1 — 2024-09-22 17:37:10 UTC

Wymon Johnson took on the wall for caretaking for his brother Obie. Soon Wymon was helping his brother with insulin injections and medicine while arranging doctors appointments, bathing him. Wymon gave up his whole life to care for his brother. His brother ended up passing and Wymon was on disability due to a bad back and was soon living in his car in the blistering summer heat. People who work with the unhoused say this is not an unusual story. When the loved one passes away and the benefits check stops coming in, the caregiver finds themselves in these positions.

alisonkeeney1 — 2024-09-22 17:39:42 UTC

The 36-Hour Day by Nancy L. Mace MA & Peter V. Rabins, MD , MPH

alisonkeeney1 — 2024-09-22 17:41:11 UTC

Helping Yourself Help Others by Rosalynn Carter

alisonkeeney1 — 2024-09-22 17:42:46 UTC

Travelers To Unimaginable Lands by Dasha Kiper

How it Mainfests in Your Body

alisonkeeney1 — 2024-09-22 18:46:41 UTC

11% of caregivers state that their role has caused their physical health to decline.

45% of caregivers reported chronic conditions such as heart attacks, heart disease, cancer, diabetes, and arthritis.

Caregivers have a 23% higher level of stress hormones.

Women who spend 9 or more hours a week caring for a spouse increased their risk of heart disease by 100%.

72% of caregivers report that they have not gone to the doctor as often as they should have. 58% of caregivers state that their eating habits are worse than before they assumed this role.

Caregivers between the ages of 66 and 96 have a 63% higher mortality rate than non-caregivers of the same age.