NEW YORK: Family caregivers worked an average of 18 unpaid hours each week helping spouses, parents, partners and other loved ones.
Almost half of the caregivers performed complicated tasks such as giving injections, operating medical equipment, and wound care.
Providing care for a family member, partner, or friend with a chronic, disabling or serious health condition — known as ‘family caregiving’ is nearly universal today. It affects most people at some point in their lives, said a new report released today.
The survey included caregivers and patients over the age of 18, and questioned participants about whether family caregivers currently or within the past month provided help with daily activities such as bathing or dressing or assistance with other tasks like managing finances or preparing meals.
One in five workers left their jobs earlier than planned to help care for a loved one. Family caregivers generally provide so much unpaid help because their loved ones need a variety of different assistance that’s hard to get from one provider and due to a lack of affordable alternatives, said…