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The Emotional and Physical Impact of Care on Caregivers’ Health

elderly women on walker

It is estimated that 44 million people eighteen years of age and older in the United States provide unpaid assistance to adults who are aging or have disabilities. The value of this unpaid group is almost double that of both the nursing home ($115 billion) and home health care industries ($43 billion), coming in at $306 billion annually. While this shows a remarkable amount of care for one’s family and community, evidence shows that most caregivers do not have the necessary support they need and are not prepared for what is required of them. This has created an entire group of people who are at risk for having emotional and physical problems of their own while they care for others. As a result, it is extremely important to prepare for the possibility of being a caregiver in advance to help alleviate the effects of caring for others down the line. More