Evercare Study Finds Stress, Depression, Fatigue Propel Caregivers Into Downward Health Spiral

MINNEAPOLIS, Sept. 25 /PRNewswire/ -- According to the Evercare(R) Study of Caregivers in Decline: A Close-up Look at the Health Risks of Caring for a Loved One, released today, the stress and worry of caregiving lead millions of caregivers to neglect their own physical and mental health, resulting in depression, extreme fatigue, poor eating and exercise habits and greater use of medications. More than half (53 percent) surveyed said this downward health spiral also negatively affects their ability to provide care.

The study was released today by Evercare, a leading provider of health plans for people who have chronic or advanced illness, are older or have disabilities, and the National Alliance for Caregiving (NAC), the nation's leading research authority on caregiving. There are more than 44 million caregivers in the U.S., with 21% of households containing at least one caregiver(i), and as the "Baby Boomers" turn 65, that number is expected to surge. When a previous study conducted in 2004i revealed 2.5 million caregivers in fair or poor health, Evercare and NAC recognized the importance of specifically taking a comprehensive look at the impact of caregiving on those caregivers' own health and wellness, and this is the first national study to do so.

Extreme stress leads to alarming health symptoms and behavior

An alarming nine in 10 (91 percent) caregivers surveyed -- all in fair/poor health and having seen a decline in their health as a result of caregiving -- suffer from depression, and eight in 10 (81 percent) of those with depression reported that caregiving has made their depression worse. Respondents cited stress as the most pervasive health problem in their lives, stemming from worry about their loved one's condition as well as being overwhelmed with caregiving responsibilities. In focus groups, caregivers recount how the stress emerges in various physical ailments, including increased blood pressure, heart attack scares, arthritis flare-ups, acid reflux, headaches and other symptoms.

Ninety percent say they worry more or feel more stress now than they did prior to becoming caregivers, and respondents cited lack of energy/sleep (87 percent), pain/aching (60 percent), and weight gain or loss (38 percent). As a result of this stress, 10 percent of respondents reported increased misuse of prescription drugs or alcohol and more than half (51 percent) report taking more medications. Moreover, 82 percent say that their sleeping habits are worse than before, while 63 percent say their eating habits and 58 percent say their exercising habits are worse than before.

Caregivers sacrifice their own health maintenance in favor of their caregiving duties

The Evercare Study also found that, among caregivers surveyed, caregiving often replaces their own health maintenance. Despite being in fair or poor health and worsening health since becoming caregivers, nearly three in four (72 percent) admit they have not gone to the doctor as often as they should, and more than half (55 percent) have missed doctors' appointments. One in five women report having mammograms less often (21 percent) and a similar proportion of men are not as up to date with their prostate exams as they once were (23 percent). Also, 33 percent say they get their teeth cleaned less often, 29 percent neglect periodic vision tests, and 26 percent skip periodic physical exams.

"Caregiving has to include caring for yourself. The fact that caregivers sacrifice their own well-being while caring for a loved one underscores the need for greater awareness around the issue and for programs that support their health needs," said Dr. John Mach, CEO of Evercare. "There are broad implications to caregivers' health decline in terms of their ability to function, provide care to their loved one and perform well at work for the 25 percent of the U.S. workforce that struggles to balance caregiving with their job."

"The study's findings not only provide a portrait of caregivers' health risks, but also point toward areas for specific preventative intervention," said Gail Hunt, President and CEO of the National Alliance for Caregiving. "Caregivers play a vital and often overlooked role caring for our nation's aging population and we hope this study spurs increased focus by the government and private and non-profit sectors on caregiver health as a public health issue."

The most common reasons given for not going to the doctor as often as necessary are putting their family's needs (67 percent) or care recipient's needs (57 percent) ahead of their own. Fifty-one percent say they don't have time to take care of themselves with their other responsibilities, and nearly half (49 percent) are too tired.

Among the other key findings of the study: Caregivers Feel Alone, Often Don't Ask for Help

Although they often have family members or friends who could help them, they sometimes shoulder more responsibility than they have to because they don't ask for help. Support from family and friends has the potential to relieve their burden, but caregivers must overcome the barrier of asking for help. Among those surveyed:

* The large majority (75 percent) feel they had no choice in taking on their caregiving responsibility. * Nearly seven in ten (69 percent) spend less time with family and friends. * Half of those surveyed (51 percent) would like to talk to someone who could help them identify tasks that other family members or friends could be doing, and teach them how to gain that cooperation. Respondents think an outside consultant could help them approach their families in a different way, or teach them to delegate and prioritize their tasks better.

Caregiving Is a Full-Time Job -- Respondents Spend Average of 41 Hours Doing It

* Thirty-seven percent spend more than 40 hours a week providing care, and 30 percent spend 20-39 hours per week doing so. * More than one-third of those surveyed (37 percent) report spending less time at their jobs. * Those who work full-time are more apt than others to say their eating habits are worse than before (73 percent vs. 53 percent for part-timers and 62 percent for those retired or not employed). More hours spent caregiving equated with greater decline

Previous studies have shown that caregivers spend on average 4.5 years caregiving, with the needs escalating over time, thus impacting caregiver health significantly over that period.(i) The Evercare study revealed that the more time caregivers spend caring for a loved one, the greater their health decline. This is even more true for those caregivers providing a higher level intensity of caregiving such as giving medications or injections, bathing, feeding, dressing or other activities of daily living. Caregivers who reported their health got a lot worse as result of caregiving (15%) spend an average of 58 hours a week caregiving and those with a moderate deterioration in health (44 percent) spend an average of 42 hours a week caregiving.

Caregivers Describe Support Services They'd Prefer Most

Surprisingly, although 82 percent of respondents report that their doctor or their care recipient's doctors are aware of their caregiving role, only half of these caregivers (56 percent) report that doctors have suggested ways they can take better care of their own health.

The caregivers surveyed are receptive to support services that could help them save time, reduce stress, manage their own health more effectively or provide them with caregiving expertise. The majority of respondents say they would be likely (63 percent very/somewhat likely) to call an expert about the stress they feel and other caregiving issues. More than six in ten (63 percent) say they would also use services provided by a mobile health van, and they explain that such a service might make them more likely to take care of their own routine health care. Similarly, half of respondents (50 percent) would like to be able to call a nurse to stay with their loved one while they go to the doctor themselves.

The Evercare Study also found that the existence of caregiver support services is not sufficient to ensure that they are used. Caregivers need to be made aware of support services through concerted communications efforts, and may also need encouragement to try whatever services are offered.

About the Study/Methodology

In a 2004 survey(i), 17 percent of caregivers reported their health as fair to poor, compared to just 9 percent of the general population who report the same. Among those caregivers in fair to poor health, 35 percent -- or more than 2.5 million -- reported their health had worsened due specifically to caregiving. In this new study, Evercare and the National Alliance for Caregiving sought to take a closer look at this population of caregivers whose own health is at risk due to their caregiving responsibilities in order to understand why and how caregiving negatively impacts their health. The study was designed to be a valuable tool for understanding this issue, and was conducted among caregivers who were in fair to poor health, and who said that their health worsened as a result of caregiving, through online (528 caregivers) and as well as 12 in-depth telephone questionnaires and four focus groups. Mathew Greenwald & Associates, Inc. conducted the study.

About Evercare

Evercare coordinates health care and well-being services for people who have long-term or advanced illnesses, are older or have disabilities. Started in 1987, Evercare today serves more than 100,000 people nationwide through a variety of Medicaid, Medicare, and private-pay health plans, programs and services in the home, the community and skilled nursing facilities. The Evercare(TM) Solutions for Caregivers program provides caregiving support, assistance and services for approximately 400,000 caregivers and their families delivered primarily through employer work-life programs. Evercare is part of Ovations, a division of UnitedHealth Group dedicated to the health care needs of Americans over age 50. For more information about Evercare, call 1-866-772-0859 (TTY 1-888-685-8480) or visit http://www.evercarehealthplans.com/.

About National Alliance for Caregiving

Established in 1996, the National Alliance for Caregiving is a nonprofit coalition of more than 40 national organizations that focuses on issues of family caregiving across the life span. The Alliance was created to conduct research, do policy analysis, develop national programs and increase public awareness of family caregiving issues. Recognizing that family caregivers make important societal and financial contributions toward maintaining the well being of those for whom they care, the Alliance's mission is to be the objective national resource on family caregiving with the goal of improving the quality of life for families and care recipients.

(i) Caregiving In The U.S., National Alliance for Caregiving and AARP, 2004 Evercare Contact: Dominick Washington Director of Media Relations (952) 936-1757