After a full year of declining most social invitations, I was beginning to feel isolated. Choosing a good night’s sleep over a night out was an unusual habit for someone who usually loves spending time with family and friends.
I began working with caregivers two decades ago. Over the years, many shared their remarkable, hard stories with me. Some caregivers thrive at a time of life that drains the most stalwart of us all. During one particularly difficult time, my husband and I took care of his mother. So, even as I worked professionally with caregivers, I also served as one. It turns out I was ill-prepared for the intensity of the experience later, when my mother-in-law was in our care.
On the heels of Valentine’s Day, National Caregiver’s Day is February 15. Whether in a professional or personal capacity, caregiving is a rewarding vocation. But few would argue it can exact a heavy toll. In fact, according to an oft-quoted study, caregivers have a 63 percent higher mortality rate than non-caregivers. Another analysis, done by Stanford University, revealed that 40 percent of Alzheimer’s caregivers die from stress-related disorders before the patient in their care dies. So, in honor of National Caregiver’s Day, we wanted to take this opportunity to encourage caregivers to show themselves a little love!
The post about caregiver isolation was written by PillMap Founder Kimber Westmore. It first appeared on SixtyAndMe.com.