The Stress Of Being A Caregiver

12/14/2007
http://www.keloland.com/healthbeat/n...cfm?Id=0,64279

If your child, spouse, or parent got sick and you became their caregiver, would you be prepared for the task? No matter how much you love someone, becoming their caregiver can be very stressful. And people under chronic stress are at risk of depression and other illnesses. Now, a Mayo Clinic program is geared at managing that stress.

Carlita Judge has had Parkinson's disease for 20 years. Her husband Jim has been by her side as primary caregiver the entire time.

Jim Judge says, "To me she's still the beautiful girl I married 44 years ago."

But their journey hasn't been easy.

Judge says, "Quite honestly it's 24-7. I can never really relax because Carlita might need me."

The constant demands of helping Carlita with basic tasks such as standing, walking, dressing and even cutting food can be very stressful for both of them.

But it's particularly stressful for Jim--the caregiver.

Dr. Jennifer Bortz, a Mayo Clinic psychologist, says untreated stress takes its toll on your mind and your body.

Dr. Bortz says, "Stress is linked to six of the major causes of mortality."

Including cardiovascular disease, stroke, cancer, cellular aging and depression. You see, stress weakens your immune system. And caregivers often don't take care of themselves because they put the needs of their loved ones first.

So to better understand how caregiver stress affects the body and to help caregivers cope, researchers at Mayo Clinic are studying the effects of a stress education program on biological aging.

Bortz says, "The program itself is referred to as mindfulness based stress reduction."

It teaches meditation -- how to stay focused on the present not on what may have happened in the past or could happen in the future. The program also emphasizes time away from caregiving and the benefits of joining a support group.

Jim and Carlita know that caregiving is stressful. But managing that stress makes their journey easier.