Integrative Wellness
Context of Family Caregiving
It could happen to any of us, at any time -- but right now, it is happening to you. Someone you love has a serious health problem, and you have stepped in to provide care. An aging parent or a child with a birth defect… a partner with HIV or a spouse with a brain trauma… a family member injured in an accident or a friend living with a chronic illness or a degenerative disease…
Here is a look at the world you are part of:
- In 1900, the average American could expect to live just 47 years, and typically succumbed to acute illnesses, such as pneumonia or tuberculosis. A century later, life expectancy had increased to 75, with chronic illness common in the waning years. The result: older people now require an average of two years of care prior to death.
"Living Well at the End of Life," RAND White Paper, 2003
- The face of caregiving varies tremendously. While the majority of caregivers are women, men also make a substantial contribution -- nearly four in ten caregivers are men. Most care is provided to family members over the age of 50 -- but 20 percent of care recipients are between 18 and 49. Seventeen percent of caregivers are helping people other than relatives.
"Caregiving in the U.S.," National Alliance for Caregiving and AARP, April, 2004
- Caregiving takes time. More than half the unpaid caregivers say they provide more than eight hours of care per week, with nearly one in five providing more than 40 hours of care weekly. The majority juggle work and caregiving responsibilities at the same time.
"Caregiving in the U.S.", National Alliance for Caregiving and AARP, April, 2004
- Caregiving is costly. If caregivers were compensated on the open market for their services, society would have to spend approximately $350 billion.
