DFW Mid-Cities: Family Caregivers Address "Aging in America"
According to the National Family Caregivers Association, more than 50 million people, provide care for a chronically ill, disabled or aged family member or friend during any given year. Adult children are often in the driver's seat to take on the responsibility of caring for their aging parents.
Family caregivers who provide care 36 or more hours weekly are more likely than non-caregivers to experience symptoms of depression or anxiety. For spouses the rate is six times higher; for those caring for a parent the rate is twice as high. When added to responsibilities of their own daily lives, juggling work and their own family, caring for a parent with declining health can be quite an undertaking.
Paul Wellander, BrightStar DFW homecare provider in Grapevine, TX, recently brought this issue to the forefront in as part of a week-long segment titled, "Aging in America." Click here to hear one family's story of coping with caring for an aging parent.