Caregiving and stress go hand-in-hand. All devoted and loving caregivers experience some level of stress. For some it is the stress of watching a family member’s physical or cognitive health deteriorate; for others the stress comes from financial worries while others experience stress by having to deal with the bureaucratic  mazes of the healthcare system.  These are only a few examples of stressful situations that family caregivers across the nation are facing daily.

How stress impacts the caregiver’s health can result in serious illnesses that can drastically hinder the ability to care for a loved one.

Stress is more than an emotion; it is the body’s response to danger. Muscles tense, adrenaline flows, and heart rate increases so that the body is ready for flight or fight mode. It is basic survival mode. Yet long periods in this heightened physical response creates relentless pressure and strain on the body. Caregiving for a family member with a deteriorating condition like Alzheimer’s Disease or Parkinson’s Disease is prime example of long-term stress.

Caregivers enduring long-term stress face several health consequences. Studies have shown that stress weakens the immune system which makes caregivers vulnerable to illnesses like the flu. The impact of stress on the immune system can also cause vaccines to work less effectively and slow the healing process of wounds.   Furthermore, stress can exacerbate chronic conditions such as cardiovascular disease, diabetes, hypertension, and osteoporosis.

Add to stress the muscle and joint strain of certain physical tasks that go into caregiving, poor diet, and lack of sleep and exercise, caregivers are faced with a mountain of health risks.  In severe cases, caregivers are at risk of heart attacks, stroke, or even death.

In a study reported in the Journal of the American Medical Association (Dec. 15, 1999), Richard Schulz and Scott Beach found that elderly caregivers who reported strain were 63% more likely to die than their non-caregiving peers.  Some caregivers die while their ill family member lives on.

If you’re a caregiver who is elderly or in poor health, you deserve respite. Better Living Home Care can step in and care for your loved one when you need to rest, strengthen your physical and mental, or simply perform the aspects of caregiving that are unmanageable.

Don’t risk your and your loved one’s health. Get the help you both require. Contact Better Living Home Care to schedule a free in-home consultation.