Caregiving still stressful after a loved one passes
October 20, 2011
Providing care for a senior loved one can be stressful. Many times people take on the extra work while still taking care of their own families and maintaining a full time job. Although some may assume that the stress levels may go down once a person has either been weaned of their responsibility or if a loved one has passed, according to a new study, this is not true for all.
Researchers from the Houston VA Medical Center and Ohio State tested this theory by studying 49 former caregivers, 42 current caregivers and 52 noncaregivers for four years. During this time all were given psychological tests to determine anxiety and depression levels.
From the data, scientists found that 41 percent of former caregivers still experienced mild to severe depression compared to the 43 percent of current caregivers who were depressed.
Although taking care of a loved one can have its obstacles, many would prefer to do it as it’s a way to spend time with relatives. Those who feel stressed about a loved one when they can’t be around may want to install a medical alert system into their homes. This device will allow them to call for help in an emergency situation.
