November is National Caregivers Month
Highlights of Today’s Caregivers
82% care for one person who is likely either living with the caregiver or living within 20 minutes of the caregiver.
60% of caregivers are female. The typical caregiver is a 49-year-old female caring for a 69-year-old female relative, most likely her mother.
40% of caregivers are male.
34% of caregivers have a full-time job, while 25% work part-time. Caregivers who work do so for 34.7 hours per week on average.
Caregivers have been caring for 4 years on average, spending 24.4 hours per week helping with activities like bathing, dressing, housework, and managing finances.
32% provide at least 21 hours of care a week, on average providing 62.2 hours of care weekly.
38% of caregivers report high emotional stress from the demands of caregiving.
(Statistics provided by the National Alliance for Caregiving and AARP: Caregiving in the U.S. 2015)
Caring for a loved one is very stressful. Caregivers need support, but most do not know how where to find it or how to ask for it. This can lead to loneliness and depression.
If you are a caregiver, create a support system.
Check for local caregiver support groups
Ask people in your close circle for help
Make taking care of yourself a priority
#AARP #caring #caregiving #Nationalallianceforcaregiving #eldercare #aging #NationalCaregiverMonth