Caregiver Depression Two Times National Average

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Caring.com recently released the results of a new study, in which 86 percent of caregivers said that caregiving impacted their work situation because they had to take time away from their jobs, quit, retire early, reduce hours, or take a leave of absence.

• Twenty-five percent of respondents stated that they suffer from depression, well above the national figure of 9 percent cited in a 2010 study by the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
  
• Caregivers are turning to their churches, synagogues, mosques, or other religious organizations (31 percent) for support.
  
• Family caregivers are also seeking support online (25 percent) via discussion forums, chat rooms, and through social networks such as Facebook.
  
• A third (32 percent) of family caregivers spend more than 30 hours per week on caregiving tasks.
   
• Seventy-seven percent of caregivers are concerned about the impact of their caregiving on their savings.
   
• The majority of family caregivers suffer from their own health issues, including high blood pressure (35 percent), arthritis (30 percent), and high cholesterol (28 percent).
   
• Over half (53 percent) of respondents report having trouble falling or staying asleep due to stress.

We have blogged about this often. Caregivers need help. And caregivers also have to recognize that they need help.