michigansthumb.com
Publication Name
WEEKEND, FEBRUARY 16, 2019
Who are the caregivers? Caregivers and those receiving care cover a range of ages, genders and relationships, but, according to the Family Caregiver Alliance, older women are most likely to receive care, and women are by far the most likely to be caregivers. Two-thirds of people receiving care are women, with an average age of almost 70 years old, but almost half of people between the ages of 18 and 45 years old receiving care are men. Women, in addition to being three-quarters of the informal caregivers, spend as much as 50 percent more time providing care than men. Half of caregivers are caring for a parent or parent-inlaw. Fifteen percent care for friend or neighbor; others, particularly older Americans who are acting as caregivers, are actually caring for their spouse, which sometimes puts people in the position of caretaking in poor health themselves. Caregivers spend an average of 13 days each month doing tasks such as shopping, cooking or food preparation, housekeeping, laundry and administering medications; six days a month feeding, dressing, grooming, walking and helping with hygiene; and 13 hours a month doing research on their loved one’s condition and how best to
help, managing finances or coordinating with doctors. Caregivers who provide complex care or spend more time providing care help with medical and nursing tasks and provide help with tasks such as getting in and out of bed and chairs. The average length of a caregiver’s work is four years, with 15 percent of caregivers helping their patients for a decade or more. Family caregivers say they spend more than 24 hours a week on caregiving, many on top of full-time jobs. (The average caregiver in the U.S. is in her late 40s.) Those who live with the care recipient spend more time on caregiving tasks than those who don’t. Caregivers also report having decision-making authority or power of attorney over such things as treatment, communicating with doctors and other health care providers and advocating on the recipient’s behalf with health care professionals, community organizations, insurance companies and government agencies. Informal caregivers, many of whom do not have special skills suited to these tasks, do so because they feel a personal responsibility for their loved ones. Almost half say no one else can do it or insurance will not pay for home care.
The Compassus
DIFFERENCE
CREDENTIALED | Care team members specially trained and nationally accredited in hospice care LOCAL | Members of our community serving our community, and trained volunteers who give generously of their hearts and time
STABLE | Average tenure of 5 years and many with 10+ years means you know your Compassus caregivers, and they know you COVERED | Hospice is a fully covered Medicare/ Medicaid benefit and is also covered by many private insurance plans HONORING VETERANS | Compassus is specially trained to care for and meet the unique needs of veterans
Nurses and Admissions are available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.
Compassus is patient first, always.
To learn more about hospice or to schedule an in-home nursing assessment to determine eligibility, please contact us at:
C A S S C I T Y (989) 872-5852 compassus.com
5986 Cass City Road, Cass City, MI 48726 Fax (989) 872-5853
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