3 Important Points to Help Fight Caregiver Stress

Caregiver stress: a problem that we believe everyone needs to put more attention and emphasis on. The gravity of this issue is massive, that one in three caregivers has been reported as depressed. And with approximately 43.5 million individuals caring for an older adult, the fear of losing out to dread is high.

As such, we want to take this opportunity for care recipients, baby boomers, and caregivers alike to have a deeper understanding of this type of stress. It is our hope that as more people are made aware of this issue, we can all help fight – and prevent – caregiver stress.

Counting the Hours and Months

Individuals who provide custodial care for a longer period of time are more likely to state they are in poor health. Caregivers who provide 20 or more hours of care describe their health condition as poor, with almost half (46%) of higher-hour caregiver respondents to be emotional stressful as well. Also, 20% of caregivers providing care for five years or more have also stated the same description. Correspondingly, the older a caregiver is, the higher the risk of stress and health risks of settling in.

Caregiver Stress is Real Among Families

Family caregivers, or those who look after a spouse or a family member, are more likely to have stress. Married women, in particular, have a higher chance of being exposed to stress than single individuals. Also, complex situations (an example is looking after an Alzheimer’s patient) has a higher level of stress compared to other caregiving situations.

Insurance Coverage Makes a Difference

With caregiving as an essential during the retirement years, certain steps are needed to help these unsung heroes from being placed in situations that’ll induce stress. Purchasing insurance policies, such as Long Term Care Insurance or Medicare Supplemental Plans will provide caregivers a lighter load of a burden to manage. Long Term Care Insurance can help address the custodial care expected amongst boomers; a Medicare Supplement will help in paying for expensive out-of-pocket medical charges.

We can help make a difference by identifying and making the necessary preparations to combat caregiver stress. With all of the services that the majority of caregivers provide for recipients, not to mention their numerous sacrifices, it is high time to give back to these heroes. Make sure to purchase insurance coverage – we all deserve the best.

About the Author:

Leandro Mueller

As the Online Content Director of FreeMedSuppQuotes, Leandro Mueller aims to push for awareness and promotion of the many benefits of the best Medicare Supplement plans in the market. Additionally, he is interested and keen in marketing and advertising strategies. He hopes that his work will help boomers and retirement industry experts alike in their lives.