| [Issue Brief:
Respite Care - Page 2]
 Respite
services can typically be split into one of two categories:
1) short-term or regularly planned episodes that permit caregivers
to perform routine errands and/or take time out from caregiving
or 2) infrequent or longer periods of time that give caregivers
the opportunity to go on vacation or attend to a family crisis.3
Additionally, the setting for a respite care program can vary
from a family's home to a residential facility to a senior
day center to a children's crisis nursery.
Informal Caregiver Statistics
A survey conducted by the National Family Caregivers Association
in 2000 showed that 26.6% of the adult population had cared
for a chronically ill, disabled or aged individual.4
This means that more than 50 million people a year act as
informal caregivers to a family member or friend. Of these
individuals, parents represent the largest group (38%), followed
by non-related persons (24%), then other relatives (20%),
spouses (11%) and children (7%).5
While many caretakers report a dedication to
attending to a loved one, they also experience financial,
emotional and physical health problems as a result of caregiving.
A recent study found that in comparison to the general population
27% of caregivers reported having more headaches, 24% described
stomach disorders, 41% expressed additional back pain, 51%
more sleeplessness and 61% reported depressive symptoms.6
High levels of depression among caregivers stand as
a significant concern because depression has been cited as
a key risk factor for chronic conditions such as coronary
heart disease, cancer and diabetes.7 The effect
of these health concerns is evident in that elderly caregivers
who report stress due to caregiving have a 63% higher mortality
rate than their non-caregiving peers.8
The hours spent as a caregiver combined
with the physical and mental health effects of cargiving results
in a huge financial burden for these individuals. Nearly two-thirds
of caretakers participate in the workforce. Estimates reveal
that U.S. businesses lose
2
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