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Optimizing better health and care for older adults and their family caregivers: A review of geriatric approaches
Addressing the care needs, health, and well-being of family caregivers (e.g., spouses, partners, siblings, friends, neighbors, kin, and others) in the United States is a public health priority.
Optimizing better health and care for older adults and their family caregivers: A review of geriatric approaches
Addressing the care needs, health, and well-being of family caregivers (e.g., spouses, partners, siblings, friends, neighbors, kin, and others) in the United States is a public health priority. According to a national survey, 24.4% of adults aged 45–64 and 18.8% of adults aged 65 and older provide care or assistance to a family or friend. One-third of these caregivers provide care for at least 20 h per week and most have provided care for 2 years or longer. Reinhard et al. reported that the estimated economic value of caregiving increased from $470 to $600 billion from 2017 to 2021. Survey data reveal an increase in the number of caregivers over time and demand for caregiver labor and the value of their services is estimated to grow exponentially as the population ages.
Compared with non-caregivers, family caregivers face substantial threats to their health and well-being. Caregivers experience increased risk for depression and anxiety, poor physical health, and compromised immune function. However, there are also benefits and positive aspects of caregiving, such as a sense of fulfillment, expansion of social networks, and relationship gains with the care recipient. As caregivers strive to provide optimal care to their family members or friends, they often encounter barriers to inclusion within healthcare processes which can compromise patient health and, in turn, the caregiver's health and well-being.
Journal of the American Geriatrics Society, https://doi.org/10.1111/jgs.19061
