At the beginning of each New Year, thoughts turn to the tradition of creating New Year Resolutions. These are simple goal statements listing how we might live the New Year in a better way than we lived in the past year. Actually, it’s a great idea isn’t it!
New Year Resolutions are generally made and then quickly forgotten! Too bad! Good intentions made into good actions promise a better life, even a better world.
We are entering a New Year and I have a special concern for a large group of people in the United States. They are known simply as ‘caregivers.’
As an administrator / executive in a senior healthcare organization, I am surrounded by hundreds of professional ‘caregivers.’ These people truly are ‘pros!’ Well trained, educated, and dedicated, they work within this organization having a rich history of success. Resources necessary for quality care giving are readily available, along with a host of support services and systems to make care giving highly effective. Still, caring for older adults with chronic health care issues is extremely challenging!
I am also concerned with ‘non-professional’ caregivers. Who are they? In a study completed by AARP, statistics indicate ‘a prevalence of informal care giving.’ AARP estimates that 21% of the U.S. population provides unpaid care to friends and family. This means about 45 million people in the U.S. are on a regular basis providing care to others! AARP also states that a typical caregiver is a 46 year old female providing more than 20 hours of care each week! Nearly 60% of caregivers juggle these responsibilities along with maintaining regular work employment.
Nearly 80% of ‘recipients of care’ are ages 50 to 75+ years old! Most recipients are older women and many are widowed. The main issues requiring care is based on old age; cancer, diabetes, and heart disease; and Alzheimer’s / (dementia) disease.
I am constantly impressed with the love and commitment provided by ‘informal’ caregivers. I am also very concerned with the lack of formal training, education, ‘support’ services and resources vital to care giving that are not typically available to informal caregivers. These caregivers need help, support and understanding.
I would suggest these 2011 New Year Resolutions for the informal caregiver:
o I will consider my skill strengths and my skill weaknesses when it comes to care giving. I’ll be honest with myself and those I care for, and admit when I am unable to provide necessary care.
o I will ask for help whenever I need to and I will not let my pride get in the way of successful care giving.
o I will seek ways of sharing care giving responsibilities with others.
o I will not confuse my loving dedication with being the same as professional quality care giving. Sometimes I may need to get professional help!
o I will admit when I need a break! I will take occasional time off to rejuvenate myself, as necessary, and I will understand that this may be the best way to provide more care in the future.
o I will investigate using a high quality, long-term health care provider organization, from time to time, to provide respite care to my love one.
o I will seek and regularly attend a ‘caregiver support group’, so that I can better understand the nature of care giving.
o I will admit that I am unable to perform all the procedures sometimes necessary as a caregiver.
o I will learn more about professional Home Health and Hospice service organizations, and when their services might be necessary.
On January 1st, 2011 the very first Baby Boomers will start to collect their social security benefits. Every day after nearly 10,000 Baby Boomers will qualify for social security. This truly is the start of the so-called ‘Silver Tsunami’ wave of Boomers. Care giving demand will have a huge impact for informal and professional caregivers. I believe most everyone will be affected to some degree in care giving. Doing it well takes a lot of preparation!
