Caregivers are Unsung Heroes in Our Society

I just discovered that Americans are living longer than ever before.

According to the Center for Disease Control and Prevention the average life expectancy globally now stands at 75 years for women and 70 for men.

Here in America the average age for men is 76.1, and 81.1 for women. This rise in life expectancy is poising a new challenge. Taking care of our aging population.

An eye-opening recent study shows that more than half of Americans aged 50 and up are helping an older adult manage tasks ranging from household chores to care for medical conditions.

The researchers' findings showed what a critical role everyday people are playing in the lives of older family members, friends, and neighbors. 

To be clear, not everyone considers themselves a caregiver, according to Courtney Polenick, an assistant professor of psychiatry at Michigan Medicine who worked with the research team.

That could include people who help a relative, friend or neighbor with tasks like household repairs, yard work, shopping or finances. 

Still those tasks are important because they help older adults remain independent and living in the community, Polenick emphasized.

It's distinct from helping with care for medical conditions, going to the doctor appointments, or assisting with personal care, like dressing and bathing.

The survey pointed out that in close to half the cases, people were helping a parent.

Researchers noted that people caring for an older adult with dementia often had an especially hard time. They routinely had to deal with helping with five or more tasks daily. Many of those caregivers reported that responsibilities were harder than expected.

There is no Hall of Caregiver fame to aspire too. These unsung heroes reported positive experiences for the study, like feeling a sense of purpose and growing closer to family or friends. They're not interested in getting some form of recognition for what they do. It's done with love.

Full disclosure: My wife (66 years-old) and I (72 years-old) are taking care of my 94-year-old father who has dementia. 

As it stands, my wife and I never planned on being caregivers. Most people don't. Like other people we do our best to provide a quality of life for someone we love.