Monday, 15 March 2010
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The Invisible People
I am one of the invisible people.
Current estimates suggest that there are more than 25 million family caregivers in America.
The value of the services family caregivers provide for free is estimated to be at least $306 billion a year.
Virtually one half of the US population has a chronic condition. Of these 41 million were limited in their daily activities. Twelve million are unable to go to school, to work, or to live independently. Most of them rely on family for assistance.
Sixty-one percent (61%) of "intense" family caregivers (those providing at least 21 hours of care a week) have suffered from depression. Some studies have shown that caregiver stress inhibits healing.
Approximately half of all family caregivers deal with prolonged bouts of depression. Two-thirds do not receive consistent help from other family members.
We are the Invisible People!! We aren’t seen, aren’t heard from, aren’t thought about. We want to be remembered. Women who are family caregivers are 2.5 times more likely than non-caregivers to live in poverty. Family caregivers experiencing extreme stress have been shown to age prematurely. This level of stress can take as much as 10 years off a family caregiver's life.
Caregiving so often keeps us off balance. It is easy to get lost in its physical and psychological maelstrom—the sadness, the frustration, the stress and strain on your body and your mind, the financial worries, the emotional pain—you know them well.Providing help is something that family caregivers know a great deal about. It is what we do every day.
The question is how often does someone lend us a helping hand?
The answer for most family caregivers is not often enough.Being a family caregiver can be a very lonely endeavor, especially if you have little or no chance for social interaction with others. Caregiving is wondering why no one ever asks how you are.Caregiving is hard work.
Caregiving is pain.
Caregiving is loving and giving and sharing.
Caregiving is accepting and learning new things and going on, and on, and on.
Caregiving is lots of questions and very few answers.
Caregiving is being out of the mainstream.
Caregiving is all these things and a whole lot more.
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About the Author
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- From: Kristenmomof3@xanga
- Name: Kris
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- About Me: It's not about surviving. It should be about love. When you know love...that's what makes this life worth it. When you live with it everyday. Wake up with it, hold on to it during the thunder and after a nightmare. When love is your refuge from the death that surrounds us all and when it fills you so tight that you can't express it. — Carrie Ryan
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Comments (2)
I agree that being a caregiver can be a very lonely job but also rewarding. Thanks for posting this great article.
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Carers have it hard in every country although they are getting more recognition in now in the UK.
On behalf of all of us who need or have needed support from caregivers may I say, "Thank you".. Many of us may not express our gratitude but we do appreciate you even when we don't show it. Sometimes we don't realise how much we depend on you but without you we would be lost so Thank You.