Postscript on Carers - Awful Research Results
October 30th, 2007I recently found an article in our local Sydney Morning Herald that made for some sad reading.
Professor Cummins from Deakin University has been researching the well-being of different societal groups for the last 6 years. The studies measure the degree to which different people are satisfied with their lives.
In the most recent study (October 2007) 3,750 carers were asked questions about health, relationships, safety and community involvement. A carer was defined as someone who looks after a frail, disabled or mentally ill relative.
According to the study carers have the lowest level of well-being of any group in the community. Further, the rate of moderately depressed carers was found to be 56% (general population is 6%), while almost 40% exhibited severe or extremely severe depression. As you can imagine the typical carer suffers a high level of dissatisfaction with life. And this is even in the presence of mitigating factors like a high income or being in a relationship.
This is tragic stuff. It really highlights to me the importance of looking after yourself as a carer. Have boundaries, have breaks without feeling guilty, maintain some part of your life that is separate from the person you’re caring for, build a support network (formal or informal), or join a support network, and find somewhere to fit in a bit of fun.
As a carer you need to stop yourself falling in a heap. You need to be resilient to mental illness, and you are far more effective in giving care to another if you remain healthy yourself.
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November 8th, 2007 at 8:39 am
I lived with my elderly mother for ten years and was a caregiver for the last two. During the last six months she developed Alheimer’s and turned into a two-year-old with a 24/7 temper tantrum. Finally she went permanently into a nursing home.
I only had six months of total hell, and my mental and physical health were shot by the end of it. I cannot imagine how people who must continue year after year can cope. The figures you quoted are, indeed, tragic.
Where I live a caregiver was charged with murder after killing the person she cared for. I’d never vote to convict her - she needs lots of help and understanding, not prison.
January 17th, 2008 at 8:54 pm
Here in the Philippines, care giving is one of the hottest jobs aside from nursing. Filipinos have this mentality that if they pursue that career they could have a better life abroad. But there are factors that we must take into considerations, for Filipinos especially:
1.You’ll going to be away with your family. You’ll going to miss their presence; the celebrations (birthdays, reunion) and the holidays (Christmas, New Year). that’s sad…
2.You’ll going to serve other people instead of your family members just for the sake of money.
3.You’ll never know if your employer will treat you right; you must be victim of harassment.
Think things a hundred times before you venture, for you’ll never know what’s going to happen next. And as to Marcia posted you have to be physically fit to fight all the obstacles and to perform your duty well.