According to a recent study by the Alzheimer's Association, there are currently almost 15 million Americans serving as unpaid caregivers for people afflicted with Alzheimer's or dementia. These caregivers provide 17 billion hours of care a year amounting to a staggering value of care estimated at $202 billion. That's a lot of money. In 2010, these caregivers had to pay a collective $7.9 billion in additional health care costs, and the study found that 33% of the caregivers suffered from symptoms of depression. 61% of the caregivers reported feeling "High to Very High" levels of emotional stress.
If you are a caregiver out there feeling very stressed out, know that you are not alone. There are a lot of support groups out there. Here is a link to a previous blog post that covers caregiver support groups in depth. Additionally, if you have the appropriate insurance coverage, schedule an appointment to see a psychologist. Talking about your problems with other people or a professional will almost surely help to alleviate your stress.
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