Four In Ten U.S. Adults Care For Sick And Elderly Relatives

[Purveyor]

WASHINGTON (Reuters) – Four in 10 U.S. adults are now caring for a sick or elderly family member as more people develop chronic illnesses and the population ages, a new study has found.

“More health care is happening at home,” said Susannah Fox, associate director of the Pew Research Center’s Internet and American Life project and the study’s lead author. “As more people are able to be saved by medical advances, their lives are being extended, but they’re also being sent home medically fragile. It’s caregivers who are the first line of defense.”Researchers, which found that the number of caregivers increased 10 percent between 2010 and 2013, surveyed 3,014 adults nationwide and found that most caregivers were between 30 and 64 years old.

Fox also said the slow U.S. economy could explain why family members are becoming more responsible for care. With fewer or depleted savings, many people are less able to hire professional help, she said.

About half of the United States population has at least one chronic condition, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Adults ages 65 and older, 75 percent of whom have chronic conditions, are expected to make up 19 percent of the population by 2030, compared with 12 percent in 2000.

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http://www.rawstory.com/rs/2013/06/20/four-in-ten-u-s-adults-care-for-sick-and-elderly-relatives/

[Politicalboi]

1. This is me

Taking care of my 86 year old mother. She needs help getting up, going to the bathroom, showering, using the TV remote.
I'm lucky she's not too bad off. She still has her senses, not too quick, but still aware. I am going to apply for assistance sometime this month. I can't work taking care of her. I miss out on jobs, so we both live off her SSI. I have 3 older brothers, one who lives with us, but doesn't do much for mom.

My other brother did take care of her for a while, but that was mostly financially than anything else, and she was more independent. And the other brother has NEVER done a thing except bring by a lunch once a week. He works a good paying job, and never asks me if I need ANYTHING. It's not easy applying for assistance. One wrong answer could blow your whole set up. It's a game they set for the "right" words you use during an interview.

She makes about 1500 a month, and they look at that as too much money, while I make 0 for my time and effort. Yes I use her money, but I shouldn't have too. For what I do, just being here 24/7 for her is worth a lot. In the mean time, I lose another day in my life I will NEVER get back, and I don't get paid for it, and I'm really never off the clock.

[Viva_La_Revolution]

2. It was me

Gram passed in February, after 7 years of constant care. You don't get that time back, but sacrificing for your Mom means a lot. I'm glad now that I did it, and proud of myself.

hang in there

[enough]

4. This was me and my husband for more than a decade,

having ended last year after the last of our four parents died (the last was the hardest -- it seems we thought we were still the "kids" till our last parent died at 98).

I really feel for everyone who is doing this. It's no doubt one of the most major issues our society is going to face in the next 20 years.

[Earth_First]

3. My parents...

My fathers's mother has taken residence with my folks due to the 10K+ per month costs it would have taken.

Fortunately enough my mother has been a Hospice RN for nearly fifteen years, so her quality of care at home is top notch.

Unfortunately this is not the case in most, if not all situations and I am deeply angeres that our elders are forced into a life of poverty.

[Auntie Bush]

5. I was my mother's caregiver for 5 years while she had Alzheimer's.

The last three years were really rough. Thank God for our local nursing association.
They came over every AM and took care of her. It was my responsibility the rest of the time. I was never allowed to leave her alone while she napped. Felt like a prisoner in my own house. Had to get a baby sitter whenever I went shopping etc.
I don't wish that job on anyone. She spent her last 2 months in a nursing home. Oh, and none of my three siblings ever offered to come here and relieve us of the responsibility...not once!