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Millions of seniors requiring care are attended by their spouses or their own adult children and many caregivers struggle to balance caregiving with other responsibilities, including full-time jobs and raising their children.
Americans are living longer lives than ever before -- nearly 78 years on average, according to the U.S. Census Bureau. But with so many people living longer, that also means more Americans are requiring more years of care.
Millions of seniors requiring care are attended by their spouses or their own adult children. According to the National Family Caregivers Association, there are an estimated 28.8 million family caregivers in America logging and estimated 30.8 billion caregiving hours annually. A study by Janet Clark and Katherine Weber of the University of Missouri found that on average, an American woman will provide about 18 years of some kind of care for her elders.
It’s understandable that caregiver stress is a daily fact of life for many Americans. The National Women’s Health Information Center, part of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, notes that many caregivers struggle to balance caregiving with other responsibilities, including full-time jobs and raising their children. “Constant stress can lead to burnout and health problems for the caregiver, who also may feel guilty, frustrated, and angry from time to time,” the center observes.
Statistics from the American Association for Marriage and Family Therapy bear this out. Four out of five caregivers say they feel a great deal of stress, and 50% have clinically significant depression. Even if a spouse or adult child isn’t personally providing hands-on care, the burden of worrying about an aging loved one can be stressful. Living far away from an aging parent can be a source of worry, as is the strain of watching a spouse or parent’s gradual decline.
This anxiety can cause a significant strain on an adult child’s other relationships, such as his or her marriage. Husbands and wives can become more distant, with a corresponding loss of intimacy. Small problems can escalate in unforeseen ways.
Dallas marriage counselor Barbara Brunworth advises couples who are experiencing difficulty to seek clergy, friends, counselors, and support groups to help them cope with worries. She notes that church activities can be an important source of support during a difficult time, but caregivers also should find activities that re-energize and sustain them, rather than causing even more stress.
Participation in an adult day care program is one way to supply a respite for caregivers and provide a needed diversion for the person needing care. In addition to time for socializing, activities may include music, exercise, arts and crafts, games, and discussion of current events with guest speakers.
Most programs follow one of two basic models. The psychosocial model, often hosted in churches or community centers, is best suited for elders with fewer and less severe physical and cognitive problems. The medical model is designed for participants with more complex health care needs. Some programs offer services for both types of participants.
One such program is Paul’s Peers Respite Care at St. Paul’s Church, Maumee, Ohio. What began as a three-month, one-day-a-week pilot program continues to grow nearly 20 years later.
Each weekday, the program provides respite services to individuals with mental or physical limitations, and to their caregivers. While the program primarily serves the elderly, it also accepts persons of all ages, who are suffering the effects of stroke, Alzheimer’s, and similar disorders. The program’s cost includes a continental breakfast, lunch, exercise, music therapy, crafts, special events, and field trips.
According to program director Deb Graham, the ministry took shape after a parishioner who was recovering from brain surgery learned that his wife had cancer and did not have long to live.
“She was obviously concerned about his care,” Ms. Graham recalled in a 2002 interview with FaithLinks. “There was already a program in place, which people could come fro lunch and a program. Its purpose was to reach out to those who lived alone or the shut in. The day service was just the next step in meeting the needs of the elderly.”
Mr. O'Loughlin's article originally appeared on The Living Church Foundation website.
