Caregiver Support Improves Outcomes

Providing unpaid care to a loved one is a selfless act that often carries mental and physical burdens for the family caregiver. In the bustle of caregiving for another, family caregivers often overlook providing care for their own wellbeing. However, when a caregiver neglects their own health, stress, or general wellbeing, their care receiver’s experiences and outcomes also suffer. As a result, it is important to understand the relationship between caregiver support and overall patient health outcomes, as well as provide health and wellness support resources to unpaid family caregivers.

The Cost of an Unsupported Caregiver

Almost 25% of caregivers report physical decline, struggles in caring for their health, or an increase in illnesses after they started caregiving. In addition to health outcomes, caregiving can negatively impact financial stability, employment, and lead to emotional difficulties. As a result, caregiving results in a 29% higher healthcare spend than for those who are not informal caregivers. In turn, and not surprisingly, care receiver health and spending are directly correlated with the health and wellness of their caregiver. Consequently, caregiver support, both physical and mental, benefits not only the caregiver, but the health outcomes of the person they are providing care.

Despite the documented benefits of providing caregiver support, the healthcare system typically overlooks family caregivers. Despite this, for organizations that provide caregiver support, caregiver well-being and quality improve, and both care receiver and caregiver health care utilization and costs also benefit. Research shows that health care organizations that offer support tend to improve their profit margins and advance their mission, and it would benefit more health care organizations to adopt programs that offer professional mental health services, well-being initiatives, and support for physical health.

We’re Here to Help

Physically and mentally well caregivers are better caregivers, and their care recipients are better off as a result. With 52 million Americans providing unpaid care and another 36.4 million of those balancing a job, family, and caregiving, providing physical and mental support to caregivers should be a top initiative. Improving the quality of life for the caregiver benefits not only the caregiver themselves, but their loved one, their health plan, and the overall healthcare system.

Our mission at Avanlee Care is to simplify the work of caregivers as well as provide support and education to improve the quality of life and general well-being of family caregivers. We’re here to help ease the caregiving mental load, provide education, and simplify caregiving work. Caregivers are balancing so much, and Avanlee Care is here to help ease the stress and anxiety that often comes along with providing care to a loved one.