Burden as Experienced by Family Caregivers
In the media, an informal or family caregiver is often portrayed as a middle aged woman who looks after an elderly relative suffering from a long-term physical condition. However, research suggests that caregivers tend to be as varied in their demographic make-up as society itself. For example, a caregiver may be the parent who cares for a child with developmental disabilities or for an adolescent with severe behavioral, emotional, or mental disorders; it may also be the husband who cares for his wife who is in a deep depression and struggles with anxiety or the adult granddaughter who cares for her grandparent with Alzheimer’s disease. The aim of this paper is to examine how caregiver burden may …show more content…
The experiences and responses that one sustains due to caring for a mentally ill loved one, varies depending on the disorder and unique circumstances that affect the individual. Providing long-term care and support for a suffering child increases stress, anxiety, and adds additional adverse problems as opposed to parents not confronted with the same circumstances (Johansson, 2010). Caregivers assume personal responsibility, internalize emotional difficulties, combat presumptions from society, and endure burdens that affect their own lives and individual satisfaction (Johansson, …show more content…
Caring for an adult with health issues increase the risk of wage loss by 29% and each additional hour spent with that adult increase the odds of wage loss by 3% (Earle & Heymann, 2012). Data shows the US is one of the few developed nations that does not guarantee paid sick leave, including sick leave for family members (Earle & Heymann, 2012). The majority of care for older or disabled adults is provided by family or friends (Earle & Heymann, 2012) primarily daughters and spouses (Cummings & Kropf, 2015). Spousal caregivers represent both risk and reward. They tend to have better relationships with the mentally ill loved one but also face their own health problems as they continue to age (Cummings & Kropf, 2015). The burden of care also increases as their loved ones age, creating further
In the media, an informal or family caregiver is often portrayed as a middle aged woman who looks after an elderly relative suffering from a long-term physical condition. However, research suggests that caregivers tend to be as varied in their demographic make-up as society itself. For example, a caregiver may be the parent who cares for a child with developmental disabilities or for an adolescent with severe behavioral, emotional, or mental disorders; it may also be the husband who cares for his wife who is in a deep depression and struggles with anxiety or the adult granddaughter who cares for her grandparent with Alzheimer’s disease. The aim of this paper is to examine how caregiver burden may …show more content…
The experiences and responses that one sustains due to caring for a mentally ill loved one, varies depending on the disorder and unique circumstances that affect the individual. Providing long-term care and support for a suffering child increases stress, anxiety, and adds additional adverse problems as opposed to parents not confronted with the same circumstances (Johansson, 2010). Caregivers assume personal responsibility, internalize emotional difficulties, combat presumptions from society, and endure burdens that affect their own lives and individual satisfaction (Johansson, …show more content…
Caring for an adult with health issues increase the risk of wage loss by 29% and each additional hour spent with that adult increase the odds of wage loss by 3% (Earle & Heymann, 2012). Data shows the US is one of the few developed nations that does not guarantee paid sick leave, including sick leave for family members (Earle & Heymann, 2012). The majority of care for older or disabled adults is provided by family or friends (Earle & Heymann, 2012) primarily daughters and spouses (Cummings & Kropf, 2015). Spousal caregivers represent both risk and reward. They tend to have better relationships with the mentally ill loved one but also face their own health problems as they continue to age (Cummings & Kropf, 2015). The burden of care also increases as their loved ones age, creating further