Woe is Me: Caregiver Stress Is Often Self-Imposed

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Apr 30, 2018

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Spousal caregivers of persons with dementia experience greater cognitive decline than non-dementia caregivers.
Studies exist citing the stress experienced by caregiversmany who are diagnosed with their own health related health concerns. Caregivers place their own health needs at a lower priority than the person for whom they care and fail to seek medical care. A care management assessment provides recommendations and options for the caregiver and care recipient that can save time, frustration, and expense.

Unfortunately, for a caregiver to pay attention to his or her health, it takes a wake up call like a serious change in health. Caregivers fail to consider who will care for their loved one if they are unable to provide care. They also feel extreme responsibility resulting from pressure from the care recipient or other family members to provide care. Caregivers experience significant guilt about the duty to provide care. Caregivers who are age 65 or older, are more physically and emotionally affected by the stress of caregiving

Many caregivers tell me that they do not have a choice caregiving and that this lack of choice is self-imposed. Caregivers feel that caregiving is their personal responsibility and report that they feel pressured to perform these tasks by the care receiver.

Many caregivers hold out with the expectation or hope that caregiving will not be a long-term situation. This belief is more accurate for non-dementia caregivers than spouses caring for a loved one with dementia.

With the majority of dementia caregivers being women, stress is of significant concern because older women are a group that is already at high risk of developing Alzheimers disease without the additional stressors of being a dementia caregiver.

The importance of identifying supports through community resources or through a care management assessment cannot be underestimated so that the health and well-being of the caregiver is not compromised and the care recipient receives the needed care. Care managers offer years of expertise that usually result in options not previously considered and assist in future care planning to avoid crises situations.

Editors Note: 2017, 2018 Pamela D. Wilson. All Rights Reserved.

Pamela D. Wilson, CSA, MS, BS/BA, CG is owner of The Care Navigator and author of the book, The Caregiving Trap: Solutions for Lifes Unexpected Changes Pamela may be reached at 720-726-3111.





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