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sheshe2

(83,355 posts)
Sat Jan 15, 2022, 12:33 AM Jan 2022

Long-term Caregiving May Shorten Life Up To Eight Years

A NEW STUDY by Ohio State University in conjunction with the National Institute on Aging has shown that adult children caring for their parents, as well as parents caring for chronically ill children, may have their life span shortened by four to eight years.

snip

The team's research provided physical evidence that the effects of chronic stress, which is often part of the caregiving life, can be seen both at the genetic and molecular levels. They used volunteers who were Alzheimer's caregivers and compared them with an equal number of non-caregivers matched for age, gender and other health and environmental aspects. The researchers looked at blood samples from each group for differences in the telomeres as well as populations of immune cells.

According to Glaser, "Caregivers showed the same kind of patterns present in the study of mothers of chronically ill kids." He added that the changes the Ohio State-NIA team saw amounted to a shortened lifespan of four to eight years. The researchers believe that the changes in these immune cells represent the complete cell population in the body, suggesting that all the body's cells have aged the same amount as the immune cells.

snip

Not surprisingly, the caregivers also differed dramatically with the control group on psychological surveys intended to measure depression which is often a sign of stress. According to Glaser, symptoms of depression in caregivers were twice as severe as those among the control group.

Ohio State is now looking at creating studies to find out how to intervene with the stress that comes with providing care for vulnerable people. They hope to find a way to slow the weakening of the caregiver's immune systems.

Caregiving has many rewards, however there's no getting around the fact that caring for a vulnerable loved one is stressful. As a caregiver for multiple people, I've reminded myself that my parents or others I've cared for wouldn't want my life shortened because of their needs. Still, I haven't always followed the path of faithful self care.

more https://www.healthcentral.com/article/longterm-caregiving-may-shorten-life-up-to-eight-years

I know most will not read this.

I am a caregiver and I love all of you that have done the same.

Hard for us elders to do this. It shortens are life , so be it.
47 replies = new reply since forum marked as read
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Long-term Caregiving May Shorten Life Up To Eight Years (Original Post) sheshe2 Jan 2022 OP
Thank you so much for posting this. I am not surprised by the findings at all. niyad Jan 2022 #1
Do we always? That promise of free rent in exchange for never abandoning the survivor Backseat Driver Jan 2022 #32
A relative gave up ten years of his life. shrike3 Jan 2022 #44
My husband and I just spent eight years, FalloutShelter Jan 2022 #2
I hear you. tosh Jan 2022 #13
You are a good-hearted person, sheshe2. I hope spooky3 Jan 2022 #3
I cared for my mother who had Alzheimers for many years Poiuyt Jan 2022 #4
I've spent most of my life as an unpaid caregiver... First Speaker Jan 2022 #5
I took care of my husband when he MerryBlooms Jan 2022 #6
I love you. sheshe2 Jan 2022 #7
How about a society Meowmee Jan 2022 #8
Wouldn't that be amazing? ShazzieB Jan 2022 #14
Yep Meowmee Jan 2022 #27
I have seen at least in NYC ads I believe from... electric_blue68 Jan 2022 #21
That aid does not apply to the vast majority Meowmee Jan 2022 #28
Woah, you and your father went through terrible... electric_blue68 Jan 2022 #30
Yw Meowmee Jan 2022 #45
In a sane and just world. . . niyad Jan 2022 #35
I am a caregiver for my husband who had a stroke 5 years ago and my adult son who was born disabled. onecaliberal Jan 2022 #9
I'm so sorry XanaDUer2 Jan 2022 #34
I've been there. Sorry. shrike3 Jan 2022 #43
My brother and I took care of our father Raine Jan 2022 #10
Infant son with disabilities DUgosh Jan 2022 #11
You and your partner have made a difference in the lives of others for so many years. Kaleva Jan 2022 #29
littlemissmartypants Jan 2022 #12
All of you are angels on Earth. Please take care of your own selves as best you can. Hekate Jan 2022 #15
This is discouraging reading for many, including me, since I spent a lot of years on highplainsdem Jan 2022 #16
Boy - I honestly don't know that I could do cilla4progress Jan 2022 #17
It can be simple necessity. I would never have chosen to be a caregiver. highplainsdem Jan 2022 #19
Caregivers top my list of society's most valuable individuals. nt oasis Jan 2022 #18
That doesn't surprise me TrogL Jan 2022 #20
My first reaction leighbythesea2 Jan 2022 #22
We take care of my mother and live with her. Stress is off the chart! 7wo7rees Jan 2022 #23
I know it's hard. But building up your own strength always helps. highplainsdem Jan 2022 #25
Thanks. There really are no words for what is really like. 7wo7rees Jan 2022 #26
I'm so sorry. My SD had to take care of her mother, because her sibling wouldn't. shrike3 Jan 2022 #42
K&R betsuni Jan 2022 #24
Two doctors told me years ago that for the sake of my own health, I'd be better off w/o my wife. Kaleva Jan 2022 #31
I hope this study is replicated and gets a LOT of attention. Hortensis Jan 2022 #33
Thank you for the link to President Biden's plan, and for the reminder about Hillary's niyad Jan 2022 #36
It certainly should be a priority for those Hortensis Jan 2022 #38
Yes, the old taking care of the very old, at a time when their own health issues emerge. shrike3 Jan 2022 #40
We have told our kids to put us in a home if needed mainer Jan 2022 #37
Yes, I plan to make a pre-emptive strike and put myself in one shrike3 Jan 2022 #41
A local teacher retired so she could take care of her mom. shrike3 Jan 2022 #39
Any stressful job will shorten your life! That's why I retired Emile Jan 2022 #46
This is one reason assisted suicide and euthanasia are important issues madville Jan 2022 #47

niyad

(112,438 posts)
1. Thank you so much for posting this. I am not surprised by the findings at all.
Sat Jan 15, 2022, 12:46 AM
Jan 2022

Unending stress does take its toll. But we do it from love and caring and compassion.

Backseat Driver

(4,339 posts)
32. Do we always? That promise of free rent in exchange for never abandoning the survivor
Sat Jan 15, 2022, 06:30 AM
Jan 2022

while in your 20's and 30's, maybe even 40s, has its charms but bought my brother something far more costly - owning the stress that stole away his health and fortune of life experience and growth but influenced his unhealthy choices. The things some do for parasitic parental love and manipulative helplessness isn't called caregiving; it's called stagnation and estrangement from one's own life and relationships that is perpetrated by brainwashing guilt installed in his by the toxically dysfunctional and deranged.

shrike3

(3,283 posts)
44. A relative gave up ten years of his life.
Sat Jan 15, 2022, 12:46 PM
Jan 2022

He lost his job, moved in with Mom. She died, and the house had to be sold. Mortgage was so high he got very little money out of it. Now he's an older guy trying to find a job and no one wants him. Part of this is his fault because he refused to think ahead.

FalloutShelter

(11,750 posts)
2. My husband and I just spent eight years,
Sat Jan 15, 2022, 12:46 AM
Jan 2022

Our sixties, caring for our parents through several medical emergencies, rehabs, nursing homes, in home aides and hospice...and then covid hit. Now I wonder where the decade went.

While we have no regrets, it was painful and arduous. I am not surprised to read these findings. t
Those years were, by turn terrifying, uplifting, and soul crushing. It is the price you pay for love.

tosh

(4,422 posts)
13. I hear you.
Sat Jan 15, 2022, 01:54 AM
Jan 2022

I spent my 40's in that state, only THANKFULLY without COVID.

My brother absconded to the opposite cornwer of the continent. After 11 years with my parents (no regrets, happy that I could be there but damn...) then Mr. tosh, an only child went through same for 5 years with his.

Every day now we say thanks that we didn't have COVID to contend with.

I hope you find the time and the strength to do nice things for yourselves. It is hard under the best circumstances, but these are far from the best.

First Speaker

(4,858 posts)
5. I've spent most of my life as an unpaid caregiver...
Sat Jan 15, 2022, 12:53 AM
Jan 2022

...it's pretty much screwed up any plans I had for my own life, but nobody else was willing to do it. My mother, my sister, my partner, my best friend...all gone now, but I did the best I could. I believe this story. I've been so stressed out over everything for so long that I'm feeling a helluva lot older than my years (68.) I don't really want to get too much older, because someone would have to care for me, and there's no one to do it...

MerryBlooms

(11,728 posts)
6. I took care of my husband when he
Sat Jan 15, 2022, 01:00 AM
Jan 2022

Was diagnosed with an aggressive cancer in 2001, and I lost him in 2002.

Now I care for my 79 y/o sister and 2 male clients. I am so tired, and I have my own physical limitations... I am considering filing for disability. I will still care for my sister. I have 3 hernias that need repair, trying to hold off until spring for surgery.

I love my clients, but it's just so hard on me.

Meowmee

(5,164 posts)
8. How about a society
Sat Jan 15, 2022, 01:13 AM
Jan 2022

Last edited Sat Jan 15, 2022, 05:05 AM - Edit history (1)

That actually supports and helps people taking care of family/ friends etc. financially and in every other way instead of raping them financially and attacking them? That would certainly cut down on the stress. I know that will never happen here though. The hospice and elder care systems are billions dollar industries and scams for the most part.

electric_blue68

(14,623 posts)
21. I have seen at least in NYC ads I believe from...
Sat Jan 15, 2022, 02:45 AM
Jan 2022

governmental services for a relative, partner, or friend to become a paid care giver.

That might help for some 1) to off set monies needed to pay for things that aren't able to be paid for by outside sources,
2) the caregiver could some of that money to hire someone else to do short term (several days) caregiving so that the regulator care giver could go stay with relatives, friends, or a decent hotel somewhere interesting for a few days.

My parents were in the same nursing home which was mostly a good, sometimes very good place. Visiting them;
if I hadn't been living relatively far away by public transportation which meant at the very, very least a 1 1/2 trip often 2+ hrs each way I'd have visited more often. My mom every ?2 - 4 wks. Sometimes 6 weeks. I was on the phone w her at least 1x - 2x wk (she didn't like talking on the phone much). But when we got together I'd spend
1 1/2 to sometimes 3 hrs there because I really loved, and liked her. We shared a lot of good stuff. Missed her.

My dad got nasty during his 2nd and even meaner from 3rd major depression so I didn't visit him as often. Though when his memory started going (from complex set of events) he at some point forgot what ever unresolved issues from his early traumatric life with both of his parents - he became very sweet again. Then I visited more.

Previous to that my mom (in her ?mid 30's) had gotten very sick with asthma when I was 5 1/2 which turned part of my childhood topsy turvi for the first few years until it was better controlled, but it was still still like egg shells when any of us her, my dad, my sis or I got a cold she could catch.
Then got even better re th asthma when I was in my late teens - but also previous to that and after had a few acute, scary, one terrifying time along with then very rare asthma scares which meant an ER trip.

When she started really extra improving my dad started having severe depression problems.

I really felt I couldn't caltch that much of a break (a couple of years w/o any problems), and that was before they started getting old 70+, and new problems. I spent way more time being in the ER, and hospital visiting than your average tween, teen, young adult.

I don't think all nursing homes, and hospice places are scams. There are serious number of bad NHs, though, at least in the past, and unfortunately many still around.

Meowmee

(5,164 posts)
28. That aid does not apply to the vast majority
Sat Jan 15, 2022, 05:02 AM
Jan 2022

And it would be a pittance compared to what you really need for someone you are caring for who became a complete invalid like my father after the hospital infected him with covid eventually leading to his murder. Here you will be bankrupted by these scam artists if you need to go on medicaid to get care and it can not be at home. If you have not set up a protected trust in advance.

Unfortunately every agency we dealt with were scams and or incompetent/ negligent and many also were criminals. The first hospital and supposed sub acute care gave him stage 3 pressure sores which turned into stage 4 under their supposed home care. Neglect and abuse is rampant, and that was one of the lesser things that happened if you can believe it.

I was trying to set up hospice at one point and found out they would be paid huge sums of money per week by medicare but would do absolutely pretty much nothing to help. No guarantee they would be available when you really needed them or at all. The only care provided would be someone to give a bath once per week. Basically they were just dropping off opiates, if they did that, and other than that you are on your own. Many bad reviews and the coordinator said that happened to her cousin as well.

I am sorry you went through all of that at such a young age.

electric_blue68

(14,623 posts)
30. Woah, you and your father went through terrible...
Sat Jan 15, 2022, 05:16 AM
Jan 2022

times, and very bad care! I'm sorry you both endured that.

I see what you mean about the pay being a pittance under very intense cases

I had heard stories waaaay before my parents were ever at that necessity. So we were concerned!


And thank you for your kind words.

Meowmee

(5,164 posts)
45. Yw
Sun Jan 16, 2022, 07:43 AM
Jan 2022

We all went through it. He would be alive if we had never come here or I had sent him back to Canada. Everyone had better prepare for this if you plan to stay in the us. Get ltc ins while you are young if you can. Make a living trust with an eldercare attorney to protect your assets. It is only going to get worse. Who knows if medicare and ss will still exist in time.

onecaliberal

(32,489 posts)
9. I am a caregiver for my husband who had a stroke 5 years ago and my adult son who was born disabled.
Sat Jan 15, 2022, 01:16 AM
Jan 2022

I also work full time. The level of stress in both places is off the chart. There is no space without stress for me.

Raine

(30,540 posts)
10. My brother and I took care of our father
Sat Jan 15, 2022, 01:17 AM
Jan 2022

who had dementia. It was the hardest thing I've ever done but I miss my father so much and would do it again in an instant.

DUgosh

(3,052 posts)
11. Infant son with disabilities
Sat Jan 15, 2022, 01:19 AM
Jan 2022

I cared for him for 20 years, then both of my parents, and partners mother, all passed peacefully. Now my partner and I both have chronic pain and mobility issues and I’m exhausted - I’m only 63.

highplainsdem

(48,731 posts)
16. This is discouraging reading for many, including me, since I spent a lot of years on
Sat Jan 15, 2022, 02:14 AM
Jan 2022

caregiving, including some years when I averaged about 5 hours of sleep a night, and some shorter periods when it was more like 3 hours a night.

And that can take a toll.

But the good news is that diet, supplements and exercise - and relaxation techniques including yoga and visualization - can repair health and stop or even reverse aging.

I discovered health food stores, books on nutrition, and yoga, when I was in my 20s, and they helped enough that I was still getting carded in my 40s, even when younger friends with me weren't getting carded. (And yes, you can still drink if you're into health foods.) I take prescriptions when necessary, but typically go years between needing any. (Twelve years now since my last prescription.)

Being in good shape helped me deal with the stress of caregiving.

And the information I'd found helped even more. Anyone you're caring for is likely to do better with a good diet, the right supplements, and relaxation techniques. And while not all doctors are openminded about anything outside allopathic medicine, some are. My mom's GP and cardiologist both approved a long list of supplements for her even when she was hospitalized, a list that sometimes shocked new doctors and nurses. I showed her doctors which books and research made which supplements a good idea, if they weren't already familiar with it. You might discover, as I did, that while doctors aren't likely to recommend supplements on their own, they're often aware of them and fine with patients taking them, even glad they were asked about supplements so they can okay them.

There's a lot of good information on health out there. Also a lot of garbage, and you have to be able to weed it out.

But it's worth it.

Doctors are invaluable. Allopathic medicine is invaluable. Prescriptions are invaluable, when needed.

But none of them can substitute for taking care of yourself.

And when you take care of yourself, you can get benefits at any age. No one should ever give up and settle for not being healthy. You can always do something, on your own, to improve your health.

And if the info helps you take care of a loved one better, that's a huge bonus for a caregiver.

cilla4progress

(24,589 posts)
17. Boy - I honestly don't know that I could do
Sat Jan 15, 2022, 02:24 AM
Jan 2022

what you all have done, and I'm not sure I would want someone to sacrifice themself for me? And especially not resent it? Even though it's no one's fault.

I'm fortunate at 67 this has not been my lot in life, so far. And so, I guess, are my family and beloveds!

Is it that it gives you purpose?

And of course - love.

highplainsdem

(48,731 posts)
19. It can be simple necessity. I would never have chosen to be a caregiver.
Sat Jan 15, 2022, 02:33 AM
Jan 2022

If I could have afforded to pay professional caregivers 24/7 instead, I would have.

But when a loved one needs care and no one else in the family can provide that care, and there's no care facility that can provide appropriate care, you just do it.

Because they're loved ones.

TrogL

(32,818 posts)
20. That doesn't surprise me
Sat Jan 15, 2022, 02:34 AM
Jan 2022

With Craftygal being as sick as she is, and needing the care she does, I'm constantly stressed and not getting contiguous sleep. That's gotta be hard on the genes.

leighbythesea2

(1,200 posts)
22. My first reaction
Sat Jan 15, 2022, 03:13 AM
Jan 2022

Was to make a joke about myself.

Caregive mom with Alzheimer's.
Was working contractually in one house, w her with me.

My husbands sons both were diagnosed with aspergers. One more severe.
He essentially single parents them, in our other house.

The states were each house is, are neighboring states at least.
According to my math, we should be retired at the very least.

7wo7rees

(5,128 posts)
23. We take care of my mother and live with her. Stress is off the chart!
Sat Jan 15, 2022, 03:29 AM
Jan 2022

She has dementia/alz.
We both recognize it is killing us.
Yeah, yoga is good, self help and all. It's still killing us.

You can't fight an 85 year old person insisting on having a space heater when it is 70 degrees outside.

We need more support. And mom retired after x # of years working for the IRS, internal affairs.

Ms 7wo7rees

And much love to all the others out there living through this!!

highplainsdem

(48,731 posts)
25. I know it's hard. But building up your own strength always helps.
Sat Jan 15, 2022, 03:45 AM
Jan 2022

Sympathies on the fight over the indoor temp. My mom wanted 80 degrees indoors. I had to run a fan, sometimes two, while washing dishes by hand. And with all her food needing pureed, there were a lot of dishes. I have several blenders and food processors, needed for the days I couldn't get around to the dishes till she was asleep.

And yes, caregivers need more support. But it can be tricky sometimes to get expert enough care. Even when my mom was in a good nursing home toward the end of her life, I had to be there several hours a day because they really didn't know how to deal with the rare swallowing disorder she had.

7wo7rees

(5,128 posts)
26. Thanks. There really are no words for what is really like.
Sat Jan 15, 2022, 04:25 AM
Jan 2022

My mother's husband died in a nursing home in 2015, a few months later her mother died in her home that she left to her, that was only a mile from her home.

Family dysfunctions and all, we only became involved round about year later.

Taking care of parent with issues will shorten your life.

No question.

shrike3

(3,283 posts)
42. I'm so sorry. My SD had to take care of her mother, because her sibling wouldn't.
Sat Jan 15, 2022, 12:42 PM
Jan 2022

She's young and healthy, but it was very hard on her.

Kaleva

(36,147 posts)
31. Two doctors told me years ago that for the sake of my own health, I'd be better off w/o my wife.
Sat Jan 15, 2022, 05:46 AM
Jan 2022

Caring for my wife while trying to earn a living as my own health problems (which began before I met my wife) made being able to work increasingly difficult was doing a number on me.

I finally applied for disability and was approved in 3 months. This allowed me to care for my wife full time.

Hortensis

(58,785 posts)
33. I hope this study is replicated and gets a LOT of attention.
Sat Jan 15, 2022, 06:45 AM
Jan 2022

It was a giant problem in 2016 when Hillary campaigned on helping caregivers, as well as other family-oriented actions. That's an of-course given her lifelong work for the wellbeing of women, children, and families.

In 2018, 820,000 people were on state waiting lists for Medicaid’s home- and community-based services, and of course many states, mostly red, don't provide those services.

Here's Biden's cargiving plan: https://joebiden.com/caregiving/

He planned $400B to greatly expand the Medicaid services. Extremely unfortunately, needed funding was excluded from the BIF, and now it's hijacked with the BBB.

November 8's practically roaring toward us. Let's send some more Democratic senators to DC.

niyad

(112,438 posts)
36. Thank you for the link to President Biden's plan, and for the reminder about Hillary's
Sat Jan 15, 2022, 11:10 AM
Jan 2022

Last edited Sat Jan 15, 2022, 02:05 PM - Edit history (1)

Plans. One would think that in the richest, bestest, most wonderfulest country in the world, that of course caregiving would be a priority.

Hortensis

(58,785 posts)
38. It certainly should be a priority for those
Sat Jan 15, 2022, 12:06 PM
Jan 2022

increasingly at risk of finding themselves trapped in that role!

Many are spending their older years caring for elderly relatives, and then finding themselves elderly without care, often having depleted their resources in caring for loved ones.

Vote, vote, vote, especially women. The vast majority are women.

mainer

(12,013 posts)
37. We have told our kids to put us in a home if needed
Sat Jan 15, 2022, 11:15 AM
Jan 2022

We don't want to burden them, and we will do everything in our power to arrange this ourselves when the time comes.

shrike3

(3,283 posts)
39. A local teacher retired so she could take care of her mom.
Sat Jan 15, 2022, 12:38 PM
Jan 2022

Three years later, she was dead, and Mom was alive and well.

A friend of a friend is taking care of her mother, and is starting to get some respite, has found caregivers who will help and give her a break. She's a vibrant woman who loves her mother dearly, but I'm glad she's getting help for that very reason.

madville

(7,397 posts)
47. This is one reason assisted suicide and euthanasia are important issues
Sun Jan 16, 2022, 08:10 AM
Jan 2022

It certainly doesn’t apply to every scenario but I know many elderly and chronically ill people that would consider it if it was legally available here in FL, would also help make it more socially acceptable as well. My 98 year old grandma is in assisted living and all she talks about mostly is wanting to die.

Someone should get a ballot initiative together for that here now that I think about it, gonna look into that, see if any groups are working on it.

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