Unsupported caregivers suffer “40 percent increase in mortality rate”
March 22, 2011
In Richmond County, North Carolina, a class has recently been formed that aims to help caregivers who are currently looking after older parents with Alzheimer’s disease and other neurological disorders, according to The Richmond County Daily Journal. [Link removed, article no longer available.]
This is to better help individuals deal with the emotional and physical strain that is often present among caregivers and works to teach participants how to juggle work and family with their duties toward a parent.
“There is a 40 percent increase in mortality rate of caregivers who don’t take care of themselves properly,” Richmond County Hospice business development coordinator Lisa Ledford told the publication.
The topics covered in classes include managing stress, setting limits, the importance of reaching out for help and how to talk about difficult problems. Those who are feeling overwhelmed by their responsibilities may also want to consider investing in a medical alert system. Medical alert systems enable older adults to instantly send a medical alert if they suffer an unexpected injury while living alone.
The Alzheimer’s Association estimates that there are nearly 15 million caregivers across the country who are tending to the needs of patients with the condition.
