Effects on Caregivers of Elderly Family Members
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According to the United States Bureau of the Census, as of 1995 there were at least 54 million people who were 55 years old or older and 33.5 million of those were over 65 years old (Mathur & Moschis, 1999). According to the National Alliance for Caregiving, more than 22 million homes in the United States has a family member or friend over the age of 50 years living as dependents in those homes. These numbers are likely to balloon by 2011 when the first wave of baby boomers reaches the age of 65 (Gerbman, 2000). A more recent survey conducted by AARP (American Association of Retired Persons) focussed on the quality of life of those who care for their aged family members. The survey specifically targeted the ôSandwich Generationö, those who are caring for both the elderly in their family as well as their own children (Baron, 2001). According to the survey, while most of those interviewed enjoyed the caregiving process, they also admitted to a certain amount of stress and financial hardship that accompanied their roles (Baron, 2001). This paper will examine the effects, such as stress and financial hardship, and the significance of those effects, that caring for an elderly family member has on the family in general and the caregivers in particular. While many men provide informal care to their elders, traditionally, women have functioned as the caregivers when elderly parents or other family members were in need of assistance. Research has also shown that men are more
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et all the demands being made upon her, that is role inadequacy. Role conflict refers to the strain that arises when the demands from one or more other roles jeopardizes the adequate performance in other roles (Singleton, 2000).
When any of the above stressors come into play in the caregiverÆs life, it may start a chain of events that not only effects the performance in each role, but it may also effect their mental and physical health, as well as their financial well-being and perceived employment worth (Singleton, 2000). Many caregivers, recognizing that they are unable to adequately meet the needs of their family members while working full-time, will reduce the number of hours that they work. One study estimated that caregivers spend over 40 hours per week in caring for their elderly family members. This has often been referred to as an ôunexpected careerö (Kossek, Colquitt, & Noe, 2001; Covinsky, et al, 2001). While reducing the hours that one works may decrease stress in the amount of time available for care, it increases the stress on the financial well-being of both caregiver and those who are cared for. In a survey conducted by HR Magazine (2000), participants admitted to being perceived by their employers as ôun
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Some common words found in the essay are:
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Approximate Word count = 1408
Approximate Pages = 6 (250 words per page)
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