Caregiving is an essential public health problem that impacts the quality of life for millions of persons. Caregivers offer support with another person's social or health requirements. Caregiving may entail aid with one or more actions vital for daily life such as bathing and dressing, paying bills, shopping and providing transportation. It also may encompass emotional support and aid with managing a chronic condition or handicap. Caregiving obligations may rise and vary as the recipient's demands increase, which may result in greater pressure on the carer.
With an expanding older adult population and persons with disabilities living longer, the demand for caring is growing. By acting strategically, public health professionals can stimulate needed changes to systems that improve the health of both caregivers and care recipients, provide training to healthcare providers about the importance of family caregivers, and ensure that caregivers have the information and support they need to minimize the stress of caregiving.
Woman delivering coffee cup to elderly guy
This brief addresses the following questions:
What are the features of carers and the caring situation?
What proportion of middle-aged and older persons offer care to someone else?
What proportion of caregivers offer care to a family member or acquaintance with dementia or other cognitive impairment disorders?
What is the health state of caregivers?
What proportion of carers have health care coverage and undergo yearly check-ups?
What proportion of carers have bad days and inadequate sleep?
What proportion of carers have two or more chronic conditions or disability?
What proportion of carers reported having coronary heart disease (including angina and/or myocardial infarction) and/or stroke?
What proportion of individuals not presently carers expect they will be caregivers in the future?
