Caregivers are responsible for the care of a medically needy individual, usually a family member or loved one. The rewards of being a caregiver are numerous; you are usually able to provide much-needed comfort and personalized care during a time of mental or physical health-related stress. However, there are also numerous inherent risks in this particular endeavor, which make being a caregiver stressful and sometimes detrimental to your health.
Mental Health Breakdowns
Caregivers may be more prone to bouts of depression because of the constant stress and worry that accompanies such a responsibility. In fact, according to the Family Caregiver Alliance, or FCA, 40 to 70 percent of caregivers have significant symptoms of clinical depression. Even if the caregiver must place his loved one into a nursing home or some other type of managed care facility, symptoms of anxiety and depression may persist.
General Burnout
Caregivers are at the greatest risk for general burnout, in which they may feel too tired or overwhelmed to take on any life of their own. They may stop engaging in their own hobbies, or cut off family and friends of their own to take care of their loved ones. Their entire lives may begin to revolve around their caretaker duties, causing them to lose touch with their own interests, resulting in depression or a general lack of luster.
Adverse Health Problems
Caretakers pour so much of their time, energy and efforts into their caretaker duties, that they may pay little to no attention to their own health. According to the FCA, one of 10 caretakers report worsening physical health resulting from being a caretaker. They also have an increased tendency to develop serious physical illnesses, and reported twice the rate of heart attacks and cancer developments than their non-caretaker counterparts.
Financial Problems
Because caretakers often shoulder the entire load on their own, their finances may suffer as a result. Caretakers must often take time off from a full-time job for doctor's appointments and other caretaker-related needs, or stop working altogether. Moreover, medications and any home health care may add to the expenses of the caretaker, particularly if the ill individual has insurance that doesn't cover all of his medically-related needs.
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