INTEGRITY HEALTHCARE CONSULTANTS

```````````````````````````````````                                                                                                  PROFILE OF FAMILY CAREGIVERS Fact Sheet #2

FACT  SHEET    #1  

WHO ARE CAREGIVERS?

A  caregiver  is  an  individual  who  provides  informal  care  and  support  for  a  family  member  or  friend  who:  

Lives  with  a  long  term  or  chronic  illness  � Has  a  physical  or  mental  disability  � Requires  support  for  age-­‐related  needs    � Experiences  diminished  physical  or  cognitive  abilities      

There  are  over  2  million  informal  caregivers  in  Canada.  Women  tend  to  assume  primary  caregiving  responsibilities  more  often  than  their  male  counterparts.  In  Canada  women  represent  54%  of  caregivers,  and  are  more  likely  to  spend  20  or  more  hours  per  week  on  caregiving  tasks  (Sinha,  2013).  

Caregiving  is  often  a  long-­‐term  commitment.  A  2012  Statistics  Canada  survey  of  informal  caregivers  reports  that  of  the  majority  of  caregivers  in  Canada,  89%  had  been  providing  care  to  one  or  more  family  members  for  a  year  or  longer  (Sinha,  2013).    

 

Informal  caregiving  can  involve  a  wide  range  of  responsibilities,  including:  providing  transportation,  managing  finances,  maintaining  household  tasks  and  repairs,  managing  appointments,  assisting  with  medical  treatments,  and  providing  personal  and  emotional  support.      Aging  parents:  Elder  care  is  one  of  the  primary  types  of  informal  caregiving,  and  is  usually  provided  by  adult  children.  According  to  the  Canadian  Institute  for  Health  Information,  “few  seniors  who  are  receiving  publicly  funded  long-­‐term  home  care  are  able  to  manage  alone.  In  a  sample  of  131,000  home  care  clients  age  65  and  older,  only  2%  were  coping  without  an  informal  caregiver  (CHHI,  2010,  p.1  ).    Spouse  /  Life  Partner:  Caregiving  can  involve  tending  to  a  spouse  or  life  partner  who  is  experiencing  a  physical  or  cognitive  health  condition.  Statistics  Canada  reports,  for  example,  that  cancer  was  the  leading  reason  behind  spousal  caregiving  in  Canada  in  2012  (Sinha,  2013).    Family  members  and  mental  illness:  Nearly  8%  of  the  4  million  family  caregivers  in  Canada  are  providing  care  for  a  family  member  experiencing  a  mental  illness  (Mental  Health  Commission  of  Canada,  2015).  

“Longer  life  expectancies  and  the  transition  of  baby  boomers  into  their  senior  years  have  meant  that  more  Canadians  may  require  assistance  and  care  related  to  aging,  now  and  into  the  future.”    -­‐Sinha,  2013,  p  4.    DID  YOU  KNOW…  “At  some  point  in  their  lives,  nearly  half  (46%)  of  Canadians  aged  15  and  older,  or  13  million  Canadians,  have  provided  care  to  a  family  member  or  friend  with  a  long-­‐term  health  condition,  disability  or  aging  needs.”  -­‐Sinha,  2013,  p.3.    

COMMON TYPES OF INFORMAL CAREGIVING

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Lorem Ipsum CAREGIVER  STRESS  

There  is  little  doubt  that  caregivers  can  provide  an  improved  quality  of  life  for  recipients,  particularly  for  elderly  family  members  who  might  otherwise  require  placement  in  institutionalized  settings.  As  well,  caregiving  has  increasingly  become  an  important  means  of  reducing  excessive  health  care  and  social  system  costs  for  care  recipients.  The  demands  of  caregiving,  however,  can  place  a  considerable  strain  on  a  caregiver’s  work/life  balance.  Often  they  must  manage  competing  demands  of  providing  caregiving  support  while  also  balancing  paid  work  and  raising  a  family.    

Effects  on  paid  work:  Caregiving  can  have  multiple  effects  on  a  caregiver’s  paid  employment.  Research  has  shown  that  employed  caregivers  can  experience  disruptions  to  their  work  productivity,  reductions  in  paid  work  hours,  a  loss  of  employment  benefits,  and  diminished  opportunities  for  career  advancement.    These  effects  tend  to  be  more  prevalent  among  caregivers  who  invest  several  hours  a  week  caring  for  a  family  member  (Statistics  Canada,  2012).  

Financial  effects:  Often  the  financial  demands  of  caregiving  can  impose  financial  hardship  for  caregivers.    Many  caregivers  incur  out-­‐of-­‐pocket  expenses  for  transportation,  rehabilitation  services  and  medications.  In  2012,  28%  of  caregivers  supporting  children,  20%  caring  for  spouses,  and  7%  of  caregivers  supporting  a  parent  reported  experiencing  financial  hardship  as  a  result  of  their  caregiving  responsibilities  (Turcotte,  2013).  

Effects  on  family  life:    The  responsibility  of  caregiving,  often  a  full  time  job  in  itself,  can  mean  less  time  spent  with  children  and  significant  life  partners.  Statistics  Canada  reports  that  approximately  half  of  the  caregivers  surveyed  in  2012  with  children  under  the  age  of  18  felt  that  their  caregiving  responsibilities  reduced  the  time  spent  on  family  tasks  and  activities.  Half  of  the  65%  of  caregivers  with  life  partners  reported  spending  less  time  with  their  partners  (Sinha,  2013).  

THE EFFECTS OF CAREGIVING

HOW WE CAN HELP

At  Integrity  Healthcare,  we  offer  a  comprehensive  list  of  expert  support  services  for  caregivers  and  their  family  members.    Our  customized  services  include:

• Respite  relief  for  caregivers  • Home  care  services  • Companionship  for  your  loved  one  (in  home  or  in  hospital)  • Family  mediation  • Medication  review  • Expert  guidance  with  Personal  Health  Portfolios  and  Living  Wills  • Comprehensive  care  planning  • In-­‐person  navigation  and  advocacy  support  by  an  RN  (in  the  home,  hospital  or  doctor’s  office)  • Therapeutic  education  • Home  safety  assessments/safety  equipment  demonstration  and  installation    • Coordination  of  integrated  care  with  all  medical  professionals  (case  management)  

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CAREGIVER STRESS

Without  an  appropriate  support  system,  the  role  of  caregiving  can  become  overwhelming.  When  a  caregiver’s  responsibilities  exceed  his  or  her  ability  to  manage  them  effectively,  there  is  often  a  high  potential  for  stress  and  burn-­‐out.    

Caregiver  stress  (also  known  as  “caregiver  distress”  or  “caregiver  strain”)  is  defined  as  “the  overall  impact  of  physical,  psychological,  social,  and  financial  demands  of  caregiving”  (CIHI,2010,  p.  3).    

 

SOME  IMPORTANT  STATISTICS  ON  CAREGIVER  STRESS  

• A  2012  Statistics  Canada  study  found  that  while  most  caregivers  surveyed  were  able  to  effectively  manage  their  caregiving  responsibilities,  “28%  found  providing  care  somewhat  or  very  stressful  and  19%  of  caregivers  indicated  that  their  physical  and  emotional  health  suffered  in  the  last  12  months  as  a  result  of  their  caregiving  responsibilities.    In  both  cases,  these  consequences  were  magnified  with  the  intensity  of  care  and  the  number  of  hours  per  week”  (Sinha,  2013,  p.  13).  

• The  Canadian  Institute  for  Health  Information  reports  that  “nearly  20,000  informal  caregivers  (16%)  of  seniors  receiving  home  care  reported  distress  related  to  their  role.  The  rates  of  distress  were  significantly  higher  among  those  providing  more  than  21  hours  of  care  per  week:  28%”  (CIHI,  2010,  p.  1).    

• A  study  conducted  by  the  Canadian  Institute  for  Health  Information  found  that  caregiver  distress  was  most  strongly  associated  with  two  factors:  the  level  of  cognitive  impairment  of  the  family  member,  and  the  number  of  hours  required  to  care  for  the  recipient.  (CIHI,  2010)  

SIGNS  &  SYMPTOMS  OF  CAREGIVER  STRESS:  

• Emotional:  Feelings  of  isolation,  anxiety,  distress,  anger  or  depression  • Physical:  Declining  physical  health  (including  weight  loss  or  gain,  exhaustion,  disruptions  in  sleep  

patterns)  • Lifestyle  changes:    Abusing  drugs  or  alcohol;  losing  interest  in  hobbies  or  social  activities  

 

CONSEQUENCES  OF  CAREGIVER  STRESS  &  BURN-­‐OUT    

Caregiver  stress  can  pose  considerable  consequences  for  the  well-­‐being  of  caregivers  and  care  recipients  alike.  Research  has  shown  that  caregivers  with  high  levels  of  “role  overload”  are  often  in  “poorer  physical  and  mental  health  and  make  greater  use  of  Canada’s  health  care  system”  (Duxbury  et  al.,  2009,  p.  35).    Caregiver  stress  also  has  implications  for  the  well  being  of  care  recipients.  In  the  case  of  seniors,  for  example,  there  is  a  higher  risk  of  being  admitted  to  a  residential  care  facility  or  a  nursing  home  if  a  caregiver  is  unable  to  carry  out  his  or  her  role.  The  Canadian  Institute  for  Health  Information  notes:  

 A  sustainable  health  care  system  relies  on  the  informal  support  network  to  help  keep  seniors  at  home  and  avoid  institutionalization  for  as  long  as  possible.  Informal  caregivers  who  are  at  higher  risk  of  distress  may  require  additional  resources  or  respite  to  continue  providing  care”  (CIHI,  2010,  p.  15).  

ADDITIONAL CAREGIVER INFORMATION RESOURCES   Helpguide.org  http://www.helpguide.org/    The  Family  Caregiver.com  http://www.thefamilycaregiver.com/ontario/caregiving/caregiving.php    Canadian  Caregiver  Coalition  http://www.ccc-­‐ccan.ca/    Canadian  Mental  health  Association  (Ontario)  https://ontario.cmha.ca/  

REFERENCES

Canadian  Institute  for  Health  Information  (2010).  Caregiver  Distress  in  Brief.  Ottawa:  Canadian  Institute  for  Health  Information.  

Duxbury,  L.,  Higgins,  C.,  and  Schroder,  B.  (2009).  Balancing  Paid  Work  and  Caregiving  Responsibilities:  A  Closer  Look  at  Family  Caregivers  in  Canada.  http://www.cprn.org/documents/51061_EN.pdf  

Mental  Health  Commission  of  Canada.  (2015).  Informing  the  Future:  Mental  Health  Indicators  for  Canada,  Ottawa,  ON:  Author.  

Sinha,  Maire.  2013.  "Portrait  of  caregivers,  2012."  Spotlight  on  Canadians:  Results  from  the  General  Social  Survey.  No.  1.  September.  Statistics  Canada  Catalogue  no.  89-­‐652-­‐X.  

Turcotte,  M.  2013.  “Family  caregiving:  What  are  the  consequences?”  Insights  on  Canadian  Society.  Statistics  Canada  Catalogue  no.  75-­‐006-­‐X,  September  

 

COPING AND STRESS PREVENTION: STRATEGIES FOR CAREGIVERS

Prepared  by:  MacMillan  Research  Design  –  www.macmillanresearch.com  

While  caregiving  can  be  a  deeply  rewarding  experience  for  both  caregivers  and  recipients,  it  often  comes  with  unique  challenges  and  stressors.  Adopting  healthy  coping  strategies  is  key  to  managing  your  tasks  and  preventing  burn-­‐out.      Ask  for  help.  Accept  any  offers  for  support  that  might  provide  you  with  some  respite.    Find  Balance.  Try  to  take  at  least  a  half  an  hour  a  day  to  “recharge”,  relax  or  engage  in  a  hobby.    Reach  out.  Join  caregiver  support  groups  in  your  community,  or  online.    Take  care.  Don’t  neglect  your  own  health.  Get  plenty  of  rest,  try  to  follow  healthy  eating  habits,  and  where  possible,  find  time  for  light  fitness  activities.