Caregiving Stress Results

We rate our stress as 4.13 on a scale of 1 to 5.

Thank you so much for sharing about your stress in our recent Caring Question.

The bottom line: We’re stressed. In our simple stress survey, 1,182 family caregivers rated their stress level on a scale of 1 to 5 with 5 being the most stressed. The current number is 4.13.

Survey results indicate:

• 80% of survey respondents rated their stress level as a 4 or 5. Only one survey respondent rated their stress as a 1. Only 27 rated their stress as a 2.

• 72% of respondents say they miss their lives, which causes their stress.

• 63% say they don’t sleep well at night.

• 60% say they haven’t had a break.

• 54% say they don’t have enough help.

• 53% say they don’t have enough time.

Comments that survey respondents shared that stand out to me include:

• “There are not enough resources in the community that actually help to make a difference.”

• “It seems as though the world is changing since this Pandemic, the unknown with it coming back to my state is very overwhelming.”

• “I already have PTSD from watching my father die of cancer and now am sole caregiver for my bed bound mother. The depression is overwhelming to the point that I can barely do it any more and I cannot take antidepressants because of severe side effects. I'm barely holding on to a part time job and have no health insurance. When it is all over I don't think there will be much left of me. The guilt is overwhelming.”

• “It is especially challenging being a caregiver to my 98-year old mother during Covid! Before Covid, she had a physical and occupational therapist each working with her twice a week. Other family members would visit for dinners and to give me breaks from time to time. Now everything is on me and there is no let up.”

We want to help. We’ve launched an app through Mighty Networks to connect you to support to help you cope with these difficult days. To learn more, visit join.caringourway.com.