When you are the caregiver for a person with dementia, you are responsible for the daily needs such as bathing, dressing, paying bills, shopping, meals and providing transportation. Caregivers provide emotional support and may have to manage a chronic disease or disability.  Caregiving responsibilities increase and change as the loved one’s needs increase. Financial pressures mount up.   Little wonder that caregiver stress and depression is becoming a serious public health issue

Shortage of Caregivers

In a recent survey of unpaid caregivers, AARP found that there were nearly 42 million people caring for an aging friend or family member, 10 times what it was in 1989. The baby boomers are living longer but doing so with more chronic diseases and less means than the generation before them.

Americans are becoming caregivers at a younger and younger age.  The share of caregivers under 45 is five times what it was two decades ago.  The Centers for Disease Control reported in 2021 that over 34% of Americans 18 and older are either caring for an adult or juggling the care of both adults and children.   Today’s “sandwich generation” is younger than ever and they face career interruption, acute financial strain, lack of support and fatigue from fulfilling the demands of too many roles.

At the same time the cost of professional caregiving is going up and nursing homes are unable to find employees.  Federal assistance might pay a caregiver minimum wage but the income level to qualify is extremely low and most people with any benefits at all can’t qualify.  Median costs for professional caregivers is $3,000 a month and a bed in a nursing home, $8,500 a month.

The situation is dire and the chances of mending the shredded safety net are not great in our current political climate.  Caregivers need community support and the comfort of small kindnesses.

Random Acts of Kindness

When asked the question “How are you feeling today?”, most caregivers of family members with dementia say they have never been asked this question.  People ask about the person with dementia but don’t seem to realize the overwhelming job the caregiver has.  Here are some ideas for small acts of kindness that can go a long way to make a caregiver feel appreciated and cared for:  Drop off a meal.  Send flowers or a card.  Offer to pick up items when shopping.  Give a gift card to a local restaurant.  Double your next cookie recipe and drop it off.   Offer to pay for a professional housecleaning.  Ship food treats from an online site.  Pay a visit and fold laundry or clean the kitchen.  Share favorite magazines.  Give a professional massage or pedicure and sit with the loved one.

See more at   https://www.cdc.gov/aging/caregiving/caregiver-brief.html

This article is submitted by Dementia Friendly Community Initiative, a program of Whitewater Seniors in the Park.  New members are always welcome.  Contact jfrench@whitewater-wi.gov or call Jennifer French at 262 473 0535.