NEPA Vital Signs - Summer Fall 2019 - 10

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CAREGIVER STRESS
W

hen a patient is diagnosed with a life changing illness, it not only affects the life of the patient but
affects all the loved ones that care for that patient.
We justifiably tend to focus on the infirmed patient, expressing
empathy and concern, but typically don't appreciate the potential negative effects on their caregivers. This is especially true of
elderly patients and their spouses / partners.

60% of caregivers rate the
stress of caring for a loved
one as high or very high and
40% of caregivers suffer
from depression.

The negative effects of stress, including emotional, physical and
financial, especially among elderly caregivers, has been the subject
of multiple studies in the medical literature. Studies have shown
an increased incidence of depression, illness and even mortality in
caregivers of chronically ill patients. According to the Alzheimer's
Association, 60% of caregivers rate the stress of caring for a loved one
as high or very high and 40% of caregivers suffer from depression.
The physical consequences of caregiving can also be devastating. In
one study, if a patient with dementia had been hospitalized, their
caregiver had a higher mortality rate in the subsequent year when
compared with non-caregivers. In a separate study in the Journal
of the American Medical Association (JAMA), after a four-year
follow up, caregivers who reported stress from providing care to
their spouse had a 63% higher mortality compared to their peers.
Overwhelmed caregivers often prioritize the needs of their afflicted
loved ones and tend to ignore their own healthcare needs, delaying
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or not scheduling preventative care testing and routine medical
exams. The financial toll has also been well documented. Caregivers
experience increased healthcare costs (estimated at $11.4 billion)
and increased rates of absenteeism and tardiness at work.
While we need to remain focused on the care of chronically
ill patients, we also need to provide support to their caregivers.
As part of a national study, D-Care (The Dementia Care Study),
(https://clinicaltrials.gov/ct2/show/NCT03786471), these issues are
being addressed in our local community. Geisinger, in association
with UCLA, Yale University, the National Institute on Aging,
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VITAL SIGNS

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NEPA Vital Signs - Summer Fall 2019

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