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A Caregiver's Bill of Rights
I have the right:
- To take care of myself. This is not an act of selfishness. It will give me the capability of taking better care of my loved one.
- To seek help from others even though my loved one may object. I recognize the limits of my own endurance and strength.
- To maintain facets of my own life that do not include the person I provide care for, just as I would if he or she were healthy. I know that I do everything I reasonably can for this person and I have the right to do some things just for myself.
- To get angry, be depressed and express other difficult feelings occasionally.
- To reject any attempt by my loved one [either conscious or unconscious] to manipulate me through guilt, anger or depression.
- To receive consideration, affection, forgiveness and acceptance for what I do for my loved one for as long as I offer these qualities in return.
- To take pride in what I am accomplishing and to applaud the courage it has sometimes taken to meet the needs of my loved one.
- To protect my individuality and my right to make a life for myself that will sustain me in the time when my loved one no longer needs my full time help.
- To expect and demand that as new strides are made in finding resources to aid physically and mentally impaired older persons in our country, similar strides will be made toward aiding and supporting caregivers.
Wendy Lustbader, M.S.W.
The Family Caregiver
A Profile
Three million Canadians currently provide
care at home for a chronically ill family member or friend. Caregiving
is life altering, emotionally trying, expensive and simply, far
more common than most imagine. Who do you know that fits into this
profile?
Caregiving is
more than a labour of love
it is a necessity, and
passes largely unnoticed and unappreciated by most Canadians
Care recipients require care for both physical and mental disabilities
62% of these primary caregivers
have been providing such care for at least three years
23% have been providing care for more than 10 years
57% of care recipients are 65 years or older, 33% are parents
71% of primary caregivers say that providing care has been and is
stressful
17% fit a high stress profile
Caregiving is
a responsibility that impacts the workplace
77% of primary caregivers
are women
31% of primary caregivers have a household income of less than $25,000
25% report their employment has been affected by caregiving responsibilities
52% of those currently employed said caregiving has been disruptive
to their work
25% of primary caregivers have quit, retired or experienced job
change
Caregiving pounds
on the personal pocketbook
44% of caregivers pay out-of-pocket
caregiving expenses
40% of these caregivers report it costs them from $100-$300 per
month out of pocket
25% report spending in excess of $300 per month on caregiving
Source: Health Canada Caregiver Profile 2002
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