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What is a caregiver?
Who are our nation's caregivers?
What is caregiver stress?
How can I tell if caregiving is putting too much stress on me?
What can I do to prevent or relieve stress?
What is respite care?
What is the National Family Caregiver Support Program (NFCSP)?
How can I find out about caregiving resources in my community?
What kind of caregiver services can I find in my community?
What kind of home care help is available?
How will I pay for home health care?
Who is eligible for Medicare home health care services?
Will Medicaid help pay for home health care?
See also:
Caregivers are people who take care of other adults, most often parents or spouses, who are ill or disabled. The people who receive care usually need help with basic daily tasks. Caregivers help with many things such as:
Usually caregivers take care of elderly people. Less often, caregivers are grandparents who are raising their grandchildren. The terms informal caregiver and family caregiver refer to people who are not paid to provide care. As the American population ages, the number of caregivers and the demands placed on them will grow.
About one in four American families or 22.4 million households care for someone over the age of 50. The number of American households involved in caregiving may reach 39 million by 2007.
Caregiver stress is the emotional strain of caregiving. Studies show that caregiving takes a toll on physical and emotional health. Caregivers are more likely to suffer from depression than their peers. Limited research suggests that caregivers may also be more likely to have health problems like diabetes and heart disease than non-caregivers.
Caring for another person takes a lot of time, effort, and work. Plus, most caregivers juggle caregiving with full-time jobs and parenting. In the process, caregivers put their own needs aside. Caregivers often report that it is difficult to look after their own health in terms of exercise, nutrition, and doctor's visits. So, caregivers often end up feeling angry, anxious, isolated, and sad.
Caregivers for people with Alzheimer's disease (AD) or other kinds of dementia are particularly vulnerable to burnout. Research shows that most dementia caregivers suffer from depression and stress. Also, studies show that the more hours spent on caregiving, the greater the risk of anxiety and depression.
Women caregivers are particularly prone to feeling stress and overwhelmed. Studies show that female caregivers have more emotional and physical health problems, employment-related problems, and financial strain than male caregivers. Other research shows that people who care for their spouses are more prone to caregiving-related stress than those who care for other family members.
It is important to note that caring for another person can also create positive emotional change. Aside from feeling stress, many caregivers say their role has had many positive effects on their lives. For example, caregivers report that caregiving has given them a sense of purpose. They say that their role makes them feel useful, capable and that they are making a difference in the life of a loved one.
If you have any of the following symptoms, caregiving may be putting too much strain on you:
Take care of yourself. In the process, you'll become a better caregiver. Take the following steps to make YOUR health a priority:
Caregivers who work outside the home should consider taking some time off. If you are feeling overwhelmed, taking a break from your job may help you get back on track. Employees covered under the federal Family and Medical Leave Act may be able to take up to 12 weeks of unpaid leave per year to care for relatives. Ask your human resources office about options for unpaid leave.
The term respite care means care that gives the regular caregiver some time off. Respite care gives family caregivers a much-needed break. In the process, respite care reduces caregiver stress.
Respite care may be provided by:
Respite care is essential to family caregivers. Studies show that respite care helps caregivers keep their loved ones at home for longer periods of time.
The National Family Caregiver Support Program (NFCSP) is a federally-funded program through the Older Americans Act. The NFCSP helps states provide services that assist family caregivers. To be eligible for the NFCS, caregivers must:
Each state offers different amounts and types of services. These include:
A number of resources can help direct you to the caregiver services you need. These agencies will be able to tell you:
People who need help caring for an older person should contact their local Area Agency on Aging (AAA). AAAs are usually listed in the government sections of the telephone directory under "Aging" or "Social Services." A listing of state and area agencies on aging is also available online at: http://www.aoa.gov/eldfam/How_To_Find/Agencies/Agencies.asp
The National Eldercare Locator, a toll-free service of the Administration on Aging, is another good resource. They can be reached by telephone at 1-800-677-1116 or online at www.eldercare.gov. The Eldercare Locator can help find your local or state AAA. Operators are available Monday through Friday, 9:00 a.m. to 8:00 p.m., Eastern Time. When contacting the Eldercare Locator, callers should have the address, zip code, and county of residence for the person needing assistance.
There are many kinds of community care services such as:
There are two kinds of home care: home health care and non-medical home care services. Both types help sick and disabled people live independently in their homes for as long as possible. Caregivers and doctors decide what services are necessary and most helpful.
Home health care includes health-related services such as:
Non-medical home care services include:
Medicare, Medicaid and some private insurance companies will cover the cost of limited home care. Coverage varies from state to state. Other times, you will have to pay out of pocket for these services.
The cost of home care depends on what types of services are used. Non-medical workers like housekeepers are much less expensive than nurses or physical therapists. Also, some home care agencies are cheaper than others.
To get Medicare home health care, a person must meet all of the following four conditions:
To find out if a person is eligible for Medicare home health care services, call the Regional Home Health Intermediary at 1-800-MEDICARE or visit the Medicare Web site at: www.medicare.gov and select "Helpful Contacts."
To qualify for Medicaid, a person must have a low income and few other assets. Medicaid coverage differs from state to state. In all states, Medicaid pays for basic home health care and medical equipment. In some cases, Medicaid will pay for a homemaker, personal care, and other services not covered by Medicare.
For more information on Medicaid coverage of home health care in your state, call your state medical assistance office. For state telephone numbers, call 1-800-MEDICARE.
For more information on caregivers, call the National Women's Health Information Center at (800) 994-9662 or contact the following organizations:
Administration for Children and Families
Phone Number: (202) 401-9215
Internet Address: http://www.acf.dhhs.gov
Administration on Aging
Phone Number: (202) 619-0724
Internet Address: http://www.aoa.gov
Alzheimer's Association
Phone Number: (800) 272-3900
Internet Address: http://www.alz.org
Family Caregiver Alliance
Phone Number: (415) 434 3388
Internet Address: http://www.caregiver.org
National Adult Day Services Association, Inc.
Phone Number: (800) 558-5301
Internet Address: http://www.nadsa.org
National Association of Area Agencies on Aging
Phone Number: 202-872-0888
Internet Address: http://www.n4a.org
National Family Caregivers Association
Phone Number: (800) 896-3650
Internet Address: http://www.nfcacares.org
National Family Caregivers Support Program
Phone Number: (202) 619-0724
Internet Address: http://www.aoa.gov/caregivers
The National Respite Locator Service
Phone Numbers: (800) 773-5433.
Internet Address: http://www.respitelocator.org/index.htm
This information was abstracted primarily from publications of the Administration on Aging.
All material contained in the FAQs is free of copyright restrictions, and may be copied, reproduced, or duplicated without permission of the Office on Women's Health in the Department of Health and Human Services. Citation of the source is appreciated.
Reviewed by:
Mary Janevic, MPH, PhD
Research Associate
University of Michigan
School of Public Health
Department of Health Behavior & Health Education
January 2006
This site is owned and maintained by the Office on Women's Health
in the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services.
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