Giving Alzheimer’s Caregivers the Help They Need

Elder care certainly takes its toll on today’s workers. What’s even more challenging, however, is taking care of a relative suffering from Alzheimer’s disease, a progressive degenerative brain condition that leads to almost complete dependence on others. Who Cares? Families Caring For Persons with Alzheimer’s Disease, a 1999 study by the Alzheimer’s Association and the National Alliance for Caregiving, is a portrait of the overwhelming task of caring for a loved one that has Alzheimer’s disease. Consider these findings:

• Alzheimer’s caregivers report spending an average of 17.6 hours per week giving care — significantly higher than non-Alzheimer’s caregivers report spending (11.8 hours). Many Alzheimer’s caregivers also report providing more than 40 hours of care each week (27 percent compared to 14 percent of non-Alzheimer’s caregivers).
• Caregiving seriously interferes with a caregiver’s employment outside of the home. Seven in 10 caregivers have been employed at some time since they began their role as caregivers. More than half report missing time from work, cutting back from full-time to part-time work, taking a less demanding job, choosing early retirement, turning down a promotion, or giving up work altogether.
• The survey data show that Alzheimer’s caregivers suffer higher levels of physical strain and emotional stress. Huge pressures are placed on their other family and work responsibilities.
• Three-quarters of caregivers in the Alzheimer’s Association survey said they were depressed and half reported living with their ailing friend or family member, making theirs a round-the-clock job. It’s no wonder American businesses lose $26 billion annually due to caregiving employees. While there are a variety of non-medical services, products, and support available, relatively few caregivers know about them. Caregivers are in critical need of information and resources about what’s going to happen over the course of the illness, what to expect, what they can provide, and what assistance is available to them.