There are some 34 million Americans providing care to an older family member, with 15% living one or more hours from that person, according to Miles Away: The MetLife Study of Long-Distance Caregiving conducted by the company’s Mature Market Institute. Seventy-five percent say they spend 22 hours per month helping their relative with Instrumental Activities of Daily Living; 80% work full time.
;
How can families cope? The MetLife Mature Market Institute has a new guide available, free to the public, entitled Since You Care: Long Distance Caregiving. It contains a wealth of information and guidance for long-distance caregivers and a resource guide telling families where they can turn for help.
;
« Long-distance caregivers are under considerable stress, » said Sandra Timmermann, Ed.D., director of the MetLife Mature Market Institute. « They juggle the demands of two households and have to be concerned with their children’s needs, their work, their home and the needs of their parent or older relative. The physical and emotional toll can be overwhelming. »
;
The Since You Care guide, one in a series, provides practical considerations and sources of support for caregivers. A first step, says the publication, is to determine what type of help a loved one needs. This might include assistance with basic daily activities such as bathing and dressing as well as with managing health care, including taking medications correctly. Assessing the situation may involve seeing a professional such as the person’s primary physician or a specialist to evaluate health concerns.
;
Caregivers may also consider using a Geriatric Care Manager (GCM), a professional trained to assess the needs and arrange for services for older people. Usually nurses, social workers or gerontologists, they may provide a one-time service or ongoing assistance.
;
The guide offers this advice:
- Discuss your loved one’s needs with him or her, being careful to respect the person’s wishes.
- Develop a care plan; determine if your loved one will remain at home and, if so, who will provide day- to-day care.
- Communicate with friends and family members who may be able to help. If possible, hold a family conference.
- Locate and implement community resources. The Eldercare Locator, funded by the U.S. Administration on Aging, www.eldercare.gov or 1-800-677-1116 can help with the search.
- Secure services, if necessary, like adult day care, home care, chore services, transportation, friendly visitors, delivered meals and respite care.
- Keep important documents in order; know your loved one’s date of birth, Medicare, Medicaid and/or other health insurance and Social Security numbers.
- Have physicians’ information handy and make sure privacy releases are signed, if your loved one would like you to speak with doctors.
- Have financial documents in order, including bank records, tax documents, health insurance, life insurance and long-term care insurance information.
;
The Since You Care guide also provides help for caregivers on how to maintain their own lives when time is limited.
;
« Many employers, responding to the needs of their employee caregivers, will allow flex time, job sharing and telecommuting, » said Timmermann. « They may also have employee assistance programs or company- sponsored eldercare programs. Caregivers should make sure they take advantage of these, if they’re available. »
;
Lastly, the guide recommends that caregivers take time for themselves to avoid the effects of stress, which can include a weakened immune system, depression, aggravation of existing medical conditions or the onset of new ones.
;
The MetLife Mature Market Institute is MetLife’s information and policy resource center on issues related to aging, retirement, long-term care and the mature market. The Institute, staffed by gerontologists, provides research, training and education, consultation and information to support
;
MetLife, its corporate customers and business partners.
;
MetLife, a subsidiary of MetLife, Inc. (NYSE: MET), is a leading provider of insurance and other financial services to individual and institutional customers. The MetLife companies serve individuals in approximately 13 million households in the U.S. and provide benefits to 37 million employees and family members through their plan sponsors. Outside the U.S., the MetLife companies serve approximately 9 million customers through direct insurance operations in Argentina, Brazil, Chile, China, Hong Kong, India, Indonesia, Mexico, South Korea, Taiwan and Uruguay. For more information about MetLife, please visit the company’s Web site at www.metlife.com.
;
;
;
;
;
;