The Health Effects of Being a Caregiver
“Given the demands of being a caregiver, especially when juggling a job and other responsibilities, caregivers may be susceptible to health impacts,” said De La Torre. Fifty-five percent of caregivers say their caregiving duties leave them physically and emotionally exhausted. Forty-four percent say their duties leave them feeling completely overwhelmed.
Three out of four caregivers say they are in excellent or good health (74 percent), but approximately one in six caregivers (17 percent) indicate their general health has gotten worse/declined since becoming a caregiver. Caregivers with an HHI of less than $25k are least likely to say they are in good or excellent health (52 percent) – and most likely to say their health has declined since becoming a caregiver (31 percent).
Ninety percent of caregivers have health insurance, a survey finding that is relatively consistent across demographic segments with two notable exceptions: lower rates of coverage among Hispanic caregivers (75 percent) and caregivers with an HHI of less than $25k (77 percent).