Understanding the Importance of Caregivers

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Caregivers are special people. They work hard, but that work goes largely unnoticed by the public. So they rarely receive the credit that they deserve for their hard work. They also tend to give more than they have to give — emotionally, mentally, and physically.

It is difficult to find a word that does justice to the level of sacrifice that caregivers make. I know this for a couple reasons: (1) I have been staring at a blinking cursor and trying to think of that word for longer than I will admit to, and (2) my accomplishments in life would not have been possible without the sacrifices a few caregivers have made me for me. Why do caregivers make such indefinable sacrifice? Their answer would be because they have to. However, that answer is only half-right. It is true that their loved ones depend upon them to do it — but so does everyone else.

Research into caregiving within the U.S. by AARP has found that there can be as many as 44 million unpaid caregivers throughout a 1-year period. Of those caregivers, 92 percent are providing care to adults with disabilities or illnesses. The estimated number of adults receiving care from a caregiver is a staggering 17 percent of the entire U.S. population. AARP and the National Alliance for Caregiving both concluded in 2015 that the economic value provided by that care exceeded total Medicaid spending.

It is important to note that broken limbs and flus are not inflating the statistics. The Family Caregiver Alliance reported that 70 percent of caregivers provide care for more than 1 year, and 40 percent of caregivers provide care for more than 5 years. Furthermore, the average caregiver spends 25 hours per week providing care, and 25 percent spend more than 40 hours per week providing care.

Fortunately, some programs have acknowledged the importance of caregivers. Programs vary by state, and while the compensation is nowhere near what caregivers deserve, it is a start. Angela Stringfellow has done incredible work in assembling information on this topic, and it can found by clicking on this link.

However, caregivers need more than financial support. AARP found that 46 percent of caregivers report moderate to high physical strain, and 64 percent report moderate to high emotional stress. You most likely know a caregiver, and they may very well be enduring strain and/or stress.

Consider doing something to help them. If you are unsure of how to help them — just ask. It is as simple as saying, I know you have a lot on your plate, and I want to help. Can we discuss how?