Caregivers often underestimate the amount of time required for caregiving.
Many start out providing a small amount of care, gradually taking on more responsibility. Often times, this becomes more than they can handle Every family is different with different needs, different circumstances, different resources. The number of persons who provided care for an elderly, disabled or chronically ill friend or relative during the past year is more than twice as large as had been previously thought, reports the National Family Caregivers Associations survey found on their website. They rolled up their sleeves to help loved ones in need of personal assistance such as bathing, dressing or eating. All family members are challenged with identifying and arranging informal and community support for older relatives, states Cookie Wetendorf, Director of the Permian Basin Area Agency on Aging.