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Caring for Elders

The Silver Tsunami

By now all of us have heard about the aging of the Baby Boom generation.  If you were born between 1946 and 1964, you're part of it.  It's also been referred to as The Silver Tsunami.  The members of that group are now between 44 and 62 years of age.  They have affected every aspect of society they have touched.  As some like to say, it's like a pig in a python. They will have a profound effect on our perception of aging and the goods and services they will demand and utilize as they age.  Another common term that has been in use for awhile now is “the sandwich generation”; those who are taking care of their children/grandchildren and their parents simultaneously and feel pulled into two very different worlds.  You may be thinking - this is not not new.  It’s been done for eons.  While it’s true that 40, 50 and 60 year olds have commonly had responsibilities in many different areas, the sheer volume of elders has created a situation worldwide that demands attention to the caregiver role.  Not only will they be responsible for the health of their elders, they will need to be thinking about their own health as they go through midlife and beyond.  Taking on a caregiver role has many demands that bring stresses and strains not only to relationships but to finances, physical well being, emotional stability and spiritual needs

Let's talk about Optimal Aging first .  It is a concept that teaches us about ideas we need to focus on as we grow older.  Truly, it begins at birth, but certainly demands our attention as we reach middle age (I don't know exactly how that is defined these days).  This is important for elders but just as important for caregivers because they tend to neglect their own health and well being in concentrating on the care recipient.  There are several Determinants of Health that have been studied by social and medical scientists They are:
          - Functional ability - the ability to carry out ordinary activities in our daily
              lives    
          - Disease Conditions such as Diabetes and High Blood Pressure
          - Our Social Support System such as family, friends, social groups
          - Physical Health/Fitness - includes disease conditions but goes beyond
              that to include the "shape" we're in.  Are we couch potatoes, master
              athletes or somewhere in between?
          - Use of the healthcare system - taking advantage of elements of the
              health care system, such as doctor visits, utilization of recommended
              screening tests, immunizations, etc.
          - Well Being - this covers our psychological, emotional and
           spiritual health, all important components to feelings of
           satisfaction in our older years.
        - Individual Interactions between each aspect of our lives.

You can learn about this in more detail on the Optimal Aging page.          
         



Comments made in 1955:

I'll tell you one thing, if
things keep going the
way they are, it's going
to be impossible to buy
as week's groceries for $20.00

Did you hear the post
office is thinking about
charging a dime just to
mail a letter.

I never thought I'd see
the day all our kitchen
appliances would be
electric.  They are even
making electric type-
writers now.

The Caregiver Role

The primary focus on caregivers on this website focuses on family and friends (sometimes referred to as informal caregivers) rather than on paid health professionals.  While there are many similarities, there are many differences as well and I may focus on paid health professionals separately in the future.

How do you know if you qualify as a caregiver?  There is no hard and fast definition:  it is up to the individual to define.  It's not necessarily all or nothing.

  • You can be any age.
  • The time devoted to caregiving can be sporadic or 24/7.
  • Both genders are involved in caregiving.
  • You put the needs of the 'other' over and above your own.
  • One-fourth of the U.S. population has provided care for a chronically ill, disabled or aged family member.
  • It can be paid or voluntary; typically it is an unpaid family member who is female.
  • The economic value of family caregiving totals in the billions of dollars nationwide.

Benefits versus Burdens

Benefits of informal caregiving are mostly social and emotional.

  • You feel that you are carrying out your obligations.
  • You love and/or respect the individual you are caring for and have their best interest at heart.
  • You believe that you are providing the best care for that individual or overseeing their care to ensure that it is up to par.
  • You know the individual better than anyone else and believe you can meet their needs or see to it that they are met.
  • You are taking on the responsibility that others can't or won't.
  • There is no one else to do it.
  • You can't afford paid caregivers.
  • There may occasionally be a financial reward, but generally the caregiver and the care recipient both become impoverished.

Burdens of caregiving are varied according to each individual's particular situation.

  • It can be physically taxing and may result in injury.
  • It can be emotionally draining.  Depression and anxiety are common.
  • It can be stressful
    • Most caregivers are reluctant to ask for help or don't believe they can afford it.
    • It may adversely affect their job performance.
    • It may adversely affect marriage and other family relationships.
  • It can result in health complications, especially as it relates to stress related illnesses, decreased immune response, more frequent hospitalizations and pre-mature death. 
  • It can create financial burdens, including accumulation of debt, bankruptcy, loss of property, etc.

 

Family Caregivers

  • 60% female, 40% male
  • 46 is the average age but many are in their 80's and 90's
  • 41% have children under 18 years of age.
  • 52% are employed full time
  • 37% have been caregiving for over 5 years

Care Recipients

  • 65% female, 35% male
  • 80% are 50+ years old, 20% are 18 - 49 years old
  • The average is 77 years old
  • Most are on multiple medications and have multiple, chronic health conditions requiring significant nursing skills as well as the ability to navigate a complex health care system.

Caregiver Resources

Below you will find reviews of useful websites.  I have included my evaluation of the website based on the following criteria: 

www.caregiverslibrary.org *****
A service provided by Family Care America and The National Caregivers Library Alliance, this website is highly practical and user friendly.  It was born out of the frustration of its founder Ron Moore when trying to locate services for his parents.  The unique features found here include checklists and forms for consumers to use when looking for services.  It also has information and resources for religious congregations wishing to start a care ministry.