How to Recognize & Help a Caregiver Who Ignores Her Health Needs

Jun 24, 2011
Mary King

Full-time Caregivers Often Sacrifice Their Health to Care for Ailing Family Members - familymwr

Staying healthy is important to any job performance. Why then, does a caregiver put her health needs last? What signs indicate diminishing caregiver health?

Family caregivers sacrifice a lot of time and energy when it comes to patient care. A responsible caregiver will put her (or his) own needs last or will simply do without in an effort to fulfill the patient's needs. But is neglecting to see a doctor and failing to fill one's prescriptions really being responsible?

Why Would a Home Caregiver Risk Her Health?

No caregiver is invincible regardless of how tough or devoted she is. An overworked, overwhelmed caregiver can – and most likely will – lose her good health if she continues to let herself go. What excuses do caregivers give for not meeting their own physical and mental health needs?

Financial cost is too high. In a tough economy, a caregiver may have to choose between the patient's needs and her own health needs. It's not uncommon for family caregivers to spend thousands of dollars each year covering patient care costs that aren't met by insurance, Medicaid or Medicare.
Medication side effects interfere with duties. A caregiver who's drowsy, experiences bouts of nausea or suffers other inconvenient side-effects from a prescribed medication can't adequately do her job.
It's inconvenient. A full-time caregiver may be likely to forgo getting a prescription filled if she has to drive across town – say to Walmart – even if her medication is on the $4 drug list.
Instructions are too confusing to keep up with. Full-time caregivers with a lot of things on their minds would rather not spend time trying to understand complicated dosage instructions on pill bottles. They have no time to figure out time-consuming home tests. They have little or no patience when it comes to figuring out how to do prescribed therapy exercises diagrammed on paper.
It's too hard to get away. It may take more effort than it's worth to attend support group meetings when one has to find a sitter and then has to explain a long list of instructions about the patient.
Preventive procedures take too much time. Continued good health means occasional lab work, age-related tests and routine exams. If a caregiver is responsible for a difficult or high-risk patient, it's not likely she'll leave home long enough for any preventive health maintenance.

Signs that a Caregiver's Health is in Decline

A healthy, active person suddenly plunged into full-time care-giving for a long haul faces the shock of a whole different lifestyle. It's up to the caregiver's spouse, friends and even distant family members to monitor her health and well-being along with the patient's condition. The family caregiver who is focused on the needs of her patient, a spouse and young children may not even realize she is neglecting her needs.

It may be time to intervene if the caregiver:

Neglects to see a doctor for a routine checkup or other reason.
Routinely "forgets" to take her medicine or even get the prescription filled.
Is exhausted and allows her appearance go downhill.
Doesn't exercise like he or she used to.
Doesn't eat properly or eats too many non-nutritional foods.
Tries to do everything herself, day and night.
Longs to go back to the job or career she might have had to sacrifice to be a caregiver.
Comments that she (or he) feels guilty for being inattentive to children and spouse.
Loses interest in things that used to bring pleasure, like gardening, reading, bicycling and more.
Seems moody, is easily agitated and/or appears depressed much of the time.

Family and Friends Can Support a Caregiver's Health

Friends and family can help a caregiver who appears to be letting her health needs slide. A few strategically-placed phone calls might just yield a group of volunteers to act as an ongoing support team. Church members may be willing to help. Try service clubs in your community, or look for support groups associated with specific conditions such as an Alzheimer's disease, Parkinson's disease, cancer society or a stroke club. Try Easter Seals and other foundations that may have more help suggestions.

Family and friends may be able to help with medical expenses. Suggest to the caregiver that she apply through her healthcare provider or pharmacy for financial help for medications. Volunteer to pick up prescriptions and other medicinal needs. If medication side-effects are an issue, then suggest asking the physician to prescribe an alternative medication. Delegate friends to make routine phone calls to the caregiver and remind her that it's time to take her medication.

Volunteers can sit with the patient while the caregiver attends support group meetings, picks up medical supplies, or goes to the doctor. Offer to grocery shop for the caregiver or show up at the door with a casserole. Encourage proper nutrition by bringing fresh vegetables and fruit from a local farmer's market. Offer to cook a meal while visiting. Bring a little surprise gift now and then – a flower bouquet, box of candy, favorite magazine or newly-released movie DVD – something that will bring a smile to a weary caregiver.

Too many caregivers risk their health in spite of knowing they need to be at their best physically, mentally and emotionally. Family and friends are strongly encouraged to help a caregiver maintain a healthy lifestyle. For the sake of everyone concerned, learn to recognize the signs or clues that a family caregiver might be neglecting her health needs. Intervene before her health declines – before she becomes too ill to continue her duties.