Fwd: CG's health

[Guest guest]

Hi all-- the leader of our local CG group shared an article from the

10/1/98 issue of " Health News " whic may be of interest--I'll excerpt

it ---Much of it confirms what we keep telling each other !!

" Caregivers' Health is Top Priority ,Too "

" ...until recently few people realized that CGs' physical health can

suffer....Scientists have (discovered) a surprisingly long list of

physical changes that occur in CGs, and the list continues to grow.

The latest evidence... comes from a study of immune function in

spouses of patients with Alzheimers...considered one of the most

stressful caregiving situations.

{NOTE from me---this also relates to PWPS with dementia.}

" Researchers compared activity levels of natural killer (NK)

cells---immune cells that kill infectious intruders and destroy

tumor cells before they become ...cancer---in 80 CGs & 85 people with

healthy spouses. CGs had lower levels of these immune cells....The

study also included people who 'd survived a recent cancer ,which

temporarily reduces NK cells. After 18 months, NK cells returned to

normal in most cancer survivors, whether CGs or not. But CG cancer

survivors who PERCEIVED their situations as stressful still had low

NK cell activity---suggesting that caregiving stress was jeopardizing

their recovery from cancer.

" ....people caring for ailing relatives also tend to gain more

weight, have higher cholesterol and blood pressure than non-CGs. CGs

who respond to stress with anger, whether expressed or suppressed,

fared worst by these physical health measures. ...They may make

matters worse by putting their own health needs on the back burner.

" ...Although the full extent of physical harm from long-term

caregiving isn't yet known, it makes sense

for CGs to maintain their own health....In many families, the ill

person requires constant attention , forcing the CG to leave her job

with resulting drop in family income to near poverty level. feeling

trapped in this role, CGs often live with unrelieved emotional

strain, anger and depression. ...Now that the physical health risks

of CGs are becoming apparent, it's clear that anyone caring for

someone at home should take steps to ensure his/her own health

doesn't deteriorate.

" Dr. Arthuir W. Feinberg gives this advice to longterm CGs of his patients:

1. Recognize the CG role is likely to be prolonged, and that you must

make the necessary mental adjustment...must be disciplined enough to

take rest periods and reduce the level of effort from time to time.

2. Take advantage of community resources, including Meals on Wheels,

and hiring a " sitter " for a few hours to enable you to eat out, see a

movie, or exercise.

3. For more longterm relief, explore with local agencies... the

availability of respite care, which allows you to leave (the patient)

in a nursing home overnight while you get a much-needed break.

4. remember that you will only make the home situation worse if you

become ill. Watch your weight, exercise regularly, get annual flu

shots (etc) ...take care of yourself as well as you can...

5. If...your feelings of depression and helplessness are growing, ask

your doctor about using anti-depressant medication. Consider

professional counseling...Talking with others who carry similar

burdens helps reduce the stress

(NOTE from me--let's hear it for CARE ! )

6. Try to maintain a positive attitude, even in the face of a

difficult situation....A negative response to caregiving stress can

damage your health, even if you exercise and eat right. ...Maintain a

strong network of family, friends, and fellow CGs, (to) relieve your

sense of isolation and improve your perspective.

None of this is easy, but your own health, the stability of your

family, and your ability to provide quality care require that you be

as objective as possible, and approach your longterm CG

responsibility with as much discipline, patience, and humor as you

can muster. "

{NOTE from me, again---well isn't it good to have reinforcement for

what we know? And don't forget to make use of your " Handy Dandy

Expectation Adjuster " --pat. pend.-- and those helpful Patience Pills

! }

--

Camilla Flintermann, former CG for 83/70/55

ZIP=45056

flintec@...>

on the web at http://www.geocities.com/camillahf/index.html

" Ask me about the CARE list for Caregivers of

Parkinsonians ! "

And visit the CARE webring at http://www.pdcaregiver.org