Caregiver Burnout

Free Senior Emergency Kit

New research shows families are not prepared for a crisis in their loved ones' lives - they lack knowledge about senior's medications and finances when an emergency hits.

A survey was conducted of more than 600 adults, ages 45 to 65, who indicated they will most likely be filling a caregiver roler for their parents within the next 10 years.  Less than half said they are aware of their medication their parent(s) take and are familar with the important financial information they will need in case of an emergency.

Among other findings, the study showed:

• Approximately half (49 percent) are unable to name any of the medications taken by their parents each day.

• Three in 10 (31 percent) don’t know how many medications their parents take.

• About one-third (34 percent) doesn’t know if their parents have a safety deposit box or where the key is located.

• An estimated 36 percent don’t know where their seniors’ financial information is located.

Humana Points of Caregiving^®  developed a variety of resources including the Senior Emergency Kit^SM and website at www.SeniorEmergencyKit.com that can help family caregivers keep important information at their fingertips.

The toolkit is designed so that family caregivers have ready access to such information as a senior’s doctors’, pharmacy and insurance company, medications and dosage details, as well as allergies and important documents.

The kit is free, click on the above link.

Caring for the Aging Adult's Caregiver

You may be surprised to know that when your love ones age, and can no longer take care of all their needs, MORE than 80% of their care is provided by unpaid family members.

Often the caregiver's needs are secondary to the aged one in need of care. Failing to care for one's own needs can lead to stress, depression and physical problems.

Caregivers need to find a strategies to balance work, caregiving and family demands. They need to look for others who can help share the responsibility for caregiving - and ask for help.

Adult Day Care, if they are fortunate enough to have one in their community, is a good option. Often transportation can be arranged to get their loved one there and back. Many Adult Day Care Centers also offer hygiene assistance or bathing as well as meals and snacks, social activities, exercise and friendships - and offer full or half-day options.

Non-medical home care is another option, if even for a few hours, so caregivers can run errands, get a haircut and do the weekly grocery shopping or just take an afternoon off to have lunch with a friend or go to church.

Another option is out-patient therapy - physical therapy can help them get stronger and be more mobile and occupational therapy can help them learn new ways to help themselves, if they are able.

Brethren Retirement Community in Greenville, Ohio provides all these services and more.
To talk to an expert in aging, call 937-547-7600.

Why Vital Signs are Important in Elder Care

Statistics on Caregivers in Ohio

Caregivers are the unsung heroes 

Providing care and assistance to family members of all ages, caregivers are both the invisible yet indispensable backbone of the health care and long-term care system.

 (From the Family Caregiver Alliance and AARP):

• Almost two million (1,990,000) Ohioans are caregivers, whose caregiving is valued at $9.92 per hour, making the estimated economic value of caregiving in the state $14.2 billion.
• The estimated economic value of caregiving in Ohio is about 20 percent more than the state's total Medicaid spending, and about 10 times as much as the state currently spends on home- and community-based care.
• 34 million Americans (16 percent of the population) provide care to adults age 50 and older.
• 8.9 million caregivers (20 percent of adult caregivers) care for someone age 50 and older who has dementia.
• The majority of caregivers are 35-64 years old.
• Many caregivers of older people also are elderly. Of those caring for someone over 65, the average age is 63 years; one-third are in fair to poor health.
• A significant portion of those in the workforce also are providing elder care to family members. Between 25 and 35 percent of all workers report that they are currently providing or have recently provided care to someone 65 or older.
• Among baby boomer caregivers (aged 50-64 years old), an estimated 60 percent are currently employed.
• Caregivers are often unaware of the availability of support services. As many as one in four has unmet needs, only nine percent used respite services and only 11 percent participated in support groups. (Alzheimer's Association and National Alliance for Caregiving)
• More than 90 percent of caregivers who see themselves as such proactively seek resources and skills to assist their loved ones. (National Family Caregivers Association)

Brethren Home Community Services will be opening the doors to the Shuff Adult Day Center, located on their campus, the middle of March 2010. The newly-renovated space is handicap accessible and will be open 5 days a week to provide adult day services to adults in need and to provide respite care  for caregivers. 

For more information call 937-547-7600