1. PHYSIOLOGICAL AND PHYSICAL
IMPACT ON CARE-GIVERS
Review of Literature
D. Poinsett

2. THIS POWER POINT WILL EXAMINE THE PHYSIOLOGICAL AND PHYSICAL IMPACT BEING A
CAREGIVER HAS ON THE CARE-GIVER.
Psychological health of care-givers is negatively
affected:
 Care-givers show higher levels of depression
 Both care-givers depression and perceived
burden can increase depression and emotional
stress
 Depression can worsen with sending patient to a
nursing home or institution
 Have higher levels of anxiety disorders
 Substance abuse and dependency

3. Care-givers have higher levels of stress and
frustration
 Feelings of frustration, anger, guilt, helplessness and
anger
 Emotionally drained and strains.
 Chronic stress and decrease of cognitive skills due to
stress and fatigue

4. Care-givers have feeling of loss of self
 Decreased levels of self-esteem
 Constant worry and feelings of uncertainty
 Lower levels of self acceptance
 Loss of self-identity

5. Care-giving can have an impact on physical health
 Physical health is reported to get worse with being a
caregiver
 Report more chronic conditions then non-caregivers
 Have more incidences of heartburn, headaches,
aches , pains and other physical ailments
 Have higher levels of obesity
 Physical stress is increased with care-givers of
patients who are unable to transfer themselves or
care for themselves.

6. Care-givers have lower levels of their own self
care
 Less likely to seek medical help for their
aliments
 More likely to smoke and drink and consume fat
and unhealthy eating habits
 Poor eating habits for themselves.
 Hardly any care-givers report exercising or
healthy habits when caring for patient

7. What is needed to help and assist care-givers?
 Support services
 Education and programs to assist in knowledge of
care-giving
 Aide in reducing the burden of care-giving
 Financial support to help those in economic stress
 Primary care to address the care-givers needs

8. Future research needed in
 Does sex, age and relationship to the patient affect
the ability of the caregiver to:
 Cope
 Negative or positive effects
 What areas can assist the care-giver
 Nursing intervention
 Social worker and support groups
 Psychological or physical evaluations

9.  Do specific areas effect the care-givers
psychological and physical health
 Ethnicity
 Culture
 Age
 Social resources
 Coping process
 Beliefs and values

10.  Due to the economy and the limited stay at
hospitals and the increased cost of home and
skilled nursing facilities, many families are providing
care of their family members for extended periods
of time.
 These burdens can increase the stress and
physical demands on the caregivers, which, over
time, can cause mental and physical health
problems
 Research needs to be done to determine who is at
risk and what resources or help can be provided to
decrease the negative impacts of being a caregiver.