Book contents
- Frontmatter
- Contents
- Acknowledgements
- 1 An overall perspective
- 2 What is health in old age?
- 3 The goals of health promotion for elderly people
- 4 A task for everyone
- 5 Critique of strategies
- 6 Cancer prevention
- 7 The prevention of non-cancerous health problems
- 8 Enhancing functional status
- 9 Strengthening support systems
- 10 Summary of problems and strategies
- 11 Tailoring strategies to individuals
- 12 Targeting, screening and surveillance in primary care
- 13 Practical aspects of implementation
- 14 The costs of preventive care and health promotion
- Index
9 - Strengthening support systems
Published online by Cambridge University Press: 15 October 2009
- Frontmatter
- Contents
- Acknowledgements
- 1 An overall perspective
- 2 What is health in old age?
- 3 The goals of health promotion for elderly people
- 4 A task for everyone
- 5 Critique of strategies
- 6 Cancer prevention
- 7 The prevention of non-cancerous health problems
- 8 Enhancing functional status
- 9 Strengthening support systems
- 10 Summary of problems and strategies
- 11 Tailoring strategies to individuals
- 12 Targeting, screening and surveillance in primary care
- 13 Practical aspects of implementation
- 14 The costs of preventive care and health promotion
- Index
Summary
Imposed burden on family carers
Importance
The impact of the caring role on the health and wellbeing of family and other informal carers is considerable. While the caring bond may be of mutual benefit and enhance relationships there is now well-documented evidence that caring for elderly people can have numerous adverse effects (see Fig. 9.1). Many researchers have produced evidence that such caring can produce increased levels of anxiety, embarrassment, guilt, low morale and depression. Several studies attest to a significant degree of physical ill-health in carers, and diabetes, arthritis, anaemia and the use of psychotropic medication have been shown to be more common than in non-carers. This may be because the caring role is causal or because many carers themselves are elderly. Caregiving undoubtedly involves a degree of financial penalty incurring both direct and indirect (or opportunity) costs. Caring can also jeopardise opportunities for employment, many younger relatives giving up work or restricting their working hours to continue with the role. If they remain at work their performance often suffers significantly.
The impact of caring on carers can have a subsequent negative effect on their families, on the elderly people themselves and on society at large. For example, caregiving often involves spending time away from the carer's own family and family disharmony frequently accompanies the caregiving role.
- Type
- Chapter
- Information
- Preventive Care for Elderly People , pp. 217 - 241Publisher: Cambridge University PressPrint publication year: 1993