In the News

Enhanced Counseling and Support for Caregivers Helps Preserve Their Health

A new study published in the September 2007 issue of the American Journal of Geriatric Psychiatry shows that caregiver support intervention services have physical health benefits for caregivers. Spouses of patient's with Alzheimer's were studied over the last 20 years in the longest research study ever devoted to testing services to improve the well-being of Alzheimer's caregivers.

According to the new study findings, those caregivers who received supportive services such as counseling have less of a decline in their self-reported health than those not receiving the intervention. "Individualized counseling programs that improve social support for caregivers can have many indirect benefits, including sustaining their physical health," said Dr. Mary S. Mittelman, who led the ongoing study at the NYU School of Medicine. Dr. Mittelman and co-developers of the NYU Caregiver Intervention program previously found that the program eased depression in caregivers and delayed nursing home placement of the ailing spouse, compared to usual care. Their latest findings show that the intervention also helps maintain the physical health of Alzheimer's caregivers. Read More

New Research Shows Shortened Lifespan for Family Caregivers

In yet one more reminder that caregivers need to take good care of themselves, a new study indicates that family caregivers who take care of Alzheimer's patients may have shortened life spans. According to a story from Science Daily, being a caregiver for a person with Alzheimer's disease may shorten the caregiver's life by as much as four to eight years. In addition, the symptoms of depression in caregivers were twice as severe as those apparent among the control group.

Researchers examined Alzheimer's disease caregivers and compared them with an equal number of non-caregivers matched for age, gender, and other aspects. The study focused on changes in chromosomes that effectively amount to several years of additional aging. Said Ronald Glaser, one of the lead researchers. "Caregivers showed the same kind of [stress-related] patterns present in the study of mothers of chronically ill kids." The study was reported in the Journal of Immunology. Read More

Family Caregiving Article Appears in Parade Magazine

"I had a new role: 'family caregiver.' It's a job nobody applies for. You don't expect it. You won't be prepared. When I assumed that role, I became part of an unpaid army of 44.5 million Americans who take care of adults."

The September 9, 2007 issue of Parade magazine included an article by Gail Sheehy, "How Can We Help Our Nation's Caregivers?" about her personal experience as a family caregiver, as well as the challenges that face all family members suddenly thrown into the world of providing long-term care. Sheehy describes some of the policy and program innovations that exist to provide support for family caregivers, including paid family leave in California and caregiver training classes such as "Powerful Tools for Caregivers." She also points out the shortcomings in our long-term care system, including very limited Medicare and Medicaid coverage for people with chronic conditions. Read More

To subscribe or unsubscribe to California Caregiver, please visit www.californiacrc.org/californiacrc/jsp/newsletter/registration.jsp