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*2. Learn Coping Strategies<ref name="scheve">Scheve, T. (2009). 5 Tips for dealing with caregiver burden. How Stuff Works. Retrieved from http://health.howstuffworks.com/wellness/aging/elder-care/5-tips-for-dealing-with-caregiver-burden.htm</ref> *2. Learn Coping Strategies<ref name="scheve">Scheve, T. (2009). 5 Tips for dealing with caregiver burden. How Stuff Works. Retrieved from http://health.howstuffworks.com/wellness/aging/elder-care/5-tips-for-dealing-with-caregiver-burden.htm</ref>
*1. Be realistic<ref name="scheve">Scheve, T. (2009). 5 Tips for dealing with caregiver burden. How Stuff Works. Retrieved from http://health.howstuffworks.com/wellness/aging/elder-care/5-tips-for-dealing-with-caregiver-burden.htm</ref> *1. Be realistic<ref name="scheve">Scheve, T. (2009). 5 Tips for dealing with caregiver burden. How Stuff Works. Retrieved from http://health.howstuffworks.com/wellness/aging/elder-care/5-tips-for-dealing-with-caregiver-burden.htm</ref>
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--[[User:Ao08tp|Ao08tp]] 18:06, 31 October 2011 (EDT)Audrey Ouimet --[[User:Ao08tp|Ao08tp]] 18:06, 31 October 2011 (EDT)Audrey Ouimet

Revision as of 18:07, 31 October 2011

Caring for the Aging Parent

Contents

Caregiver Burden

Definition

Caregiver burden refers to a high level of stress and fatigue that is usually experienced by people who are taking care of another person, usually a family member, who is stricken with some kind of illness[1]. When caring for a person with a chronic illness you may experience loss of intimacy or close friends, financial strain and the pressure of dealing with that person’s symptoms[1].

Gender Differences

It appears that there is a gender difference apparent when dealing with caregiver burden. A study Effects of Gender on Burden Among Caregivers of Alzheimer’s Patients[1] explains that women caregivers are subjected to a higher degree of caregiver burden than male caregivers. Some factors that affected the burden of both men and women caregivers were: mean duration of daily caregiving, total duration of caregiving, education, employment status, income and the age of the parents being cared[1]. The areas in which women experienced more burden were those of developmental, physical, social burden and also time dependence. It appears that both men and women experience the same level of emotional burden when taking care of a family member that is ill[1].

Alzheimer's Disease and Stroke

Various research has been prepared on the issue of caregiving for parents and family members that have been diagnosed with Alzheimer’s disease[2] or that have experienced a stroke[3]. The role of a caregiver for a person that is chronically ill can differ dramatically from that of a healthy older individual. It has been proven that an illness such as Alzheimer’s disease can place burdens on both the person living with the disease and their caregivers as well[4]. Negative health effects have been confirmed for the caregivers of persons living with Alzheimer’s disease[4]. The financial, psychological, social and physical pressures dealt with by caregivers negatively affect their quality of life. A study Canadian Alzheimer’s disease caregiver survey:baby-boomer caregivers and burden of care, found that more caregiver burden was experienced by live-in caregivers, those where the person being cared for lives with the caregiver, than by caregivers that do not reside with the person that they are taking care of[4].

Although little is known about the combined life satisfaction of both the caregiver and the parent being cared for, some researchers find that this is an important area of interest. A research piece investigating Combined life satisfaction of persons with stroke and their caregivers: associations with caregiver burden and the impact of stroke, found that relationships between stroke victims and their caregivers that expressed discordant life satisfaction placed themselves more at risk for negative caregiver burden[5]. It appears that the perceived level of positive rehabilitation and the successful completion of everyday tasks played a role in the life satisfaction ratings both the stroke victim and the caregiver[5]. Both the Stroke Impact Scale[6] and the Caregiver Burden Scale[7] were used to assess life satisfaction among the dyad. Information and knowledge pertaining to this issue has clinical benefits which will help to identify caregiver-stroke victim dyads who are more vulnerable to caregiver burden and discordant life satisfaction[5].

Treatment

National data indicates that older adults who show depressive symptoms receive additional hours of physical assistance from several of their family members[8]. There are several benefits to treatments which include: lowering physical disability, improved mood and better social adjustment[8]. There is a large impact felt by the caregiver who is dealing with a parent who is stricken with late-life depression. When being treated for depression with antidepressant medications, the caregiver burden is alleviated and both parties begin to feel a sense of relief. In addition to antidepressant medications, caregiver support and education can help to strengthen these positive effects[8]. The severity of a patient’s depression also plays a role in the level of caregiver burden. With the successful treatment of a parent’s chronic illness, caregiver burden is alleviated to some degree[8]. Treatment options can range from therapy groups: family and self, medication, rehabilitation services and social work[9].

Caregiver stress relief can be accomplished by measures such as implementing direct services to the caregiver, supplying food or meals to the caregiver, providing house cleaning services or making transportation and medical equipment available[9]. Such services are often available to caregivers although often times funding is not available to caregivers and they cannot afford to have such services offered[9]. Management of household chores, finances and medical services are things that caregivers are forced to deal with. A project labeled A Hospice Caregiver Support Project: Providing Support to Reduce Caregiver Stress, clearly outlines the importance of offering services to caregivers who feel they need help when dealing with their aging parent or family member[9]. The study concluded that offering such services could help to reduce the use of respite services and to reduce caregiver stress. Researchers also outline the importance of asking for help from others in time of need in order to help caregivers find the time to cope with their own issues and stress[9].


Providing Support

5 Tips for Dealing with Caregiver Burden

  • 5. Put your health first[10]
  • 4. Educate Yourself[10]
  • 3. Get Help[10]
  • 2. Learn Coping Strategies[10]
  • 1. Be realistic[10]


--Ao08tp 18:06, 31 October 2011 (EDT)Audrey Ouimet

Notes and References

  1. ↑ 1.0 1.1 1.2 1.3 1.4 Akpicar, B., Kucukguclu, O., Yener, G. (2011). Effects of gender on burden among caregivers of alzheimer’s patients. Journal of Nursing Scholarship, Vol. 43(3), 248-256
  2. ↑ Alzheimer’s disease. In Wikipedia. Retrieved October 25, 2011, from http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Alzheimer%27s_disease
  3. ↑ Stroke. In Wikipedia. Retrieved October 25, 2011, from http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Stroke
  4. ↑ 4.0 4.1 4.2 Black, S. E., Gauthier, S., Dalziel, W., Keren, R., Correias, J., Huong, H. & Binder, C. (2010). Canadian alzheimer’s disease caregiver survey: baby-boomer caregivers and burden of care. International Journal of Geriatric Psychology, 25, 807-813.
  5. ↑ 5.0 5.1 5.2 Bergstrom, A. L., Eriksson, G., von Koch, L. & Tham, K. (2011). Combined life satisfaction of persons with stroke and their caregivers: associations with caregiver burden and the impact of stroke. Health and Quality of Life Outcomes, 9, 1-10.
  6. ↑ Ali, D. (2010). Stroke measures: the stroke impact scale. Rehabilitation Measures Database. Retrieved from http://www.rehabmeasures.org/Lists/RehabMeasures/DispForm.aspx?ID=934
  7. ↑ Moses, S. (2011). Caregiver burden scale. Family Practice Notebook. Retrieved from http://www.fpnotebook.com/Geri/Exam/CrgvrBrdnScl.htm
  8. ↑ 8.0 8.1 8.2 8.3 Martire, L. M., Schulz, R., Reynolds, C. F., Karp, J., F., Gildengers, A. G. & Whyte, E. M. (2010). A journal, Treatment of Late-Life Depression Alleviates Caregiver Burden has proven that late-life depression can be treated with antidepressant medications<ref>Martire, L. M., Schulz, R., Reynolds, C. F., Karp, J., F., Gildengers, A. G. & Whyte, E. M. (2010). Treatment of late-life depression alleviates caregiver burden. The American Geriatrics Society, 58, 23-29. </li> <li id="_note-empen">↑ <sup>[[#_ref-empen_0|9.0]]</sup> <sup>[[#_ref-empen_1|9.1]]</sup> <sup>[[#_ref-empen_2|9.2]]</sup> <sup>[[#_ref-empen_3|9.3]]</sup> <sup>[[#_ref-empen_4|9.4]]</sup> Empen, J., Raming, N. T. J., Irwin, S. A., Nelesen, R. A. & Lloyd, L. S. (2010).The hospice caregiver support project: providing support to reduce caregiver stress. Journal of Palliative Medicine, 14(5), 593-599. </li> <li id="_note-scheve">↑ <sup>[[#_ref-scheve_0|10.0]]</sup> <sup>[[#_ref-scheve_1|10.1]]</sup> <sup>[[#_ref-scheve_2|10.2]]</sup> <sup>[[#_ref-scheve_3|10.3]]</sup> <sup>[[#_ref-scheve_4|10.4]]</sup> Scheve, T. (2009). 5 Tips for dealing with caregiver burden. How Stuff Works. Retrieved from http://health.howstuffworks.com/wellness/aging/elder-care/5-tips-for-dealing-with-caregiver-burden.htm</li></ol></ref>
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