The Stress
Data shows a health economy. What does our stress number show?
On Friday, data about the economy shows that our U.S. economy continues to grow with strong hiring numbers and a small uptick in unemployment numbers. It’s a fairly healthy economy, according to many economists.
On Wednesday, reaction to the murder of UnitedHealthCare CEO Brian Thompson would indicate we’re probably not measuring the right kind of health. The stories shared of what individuals go through to get health care coverage is heart-breaking. These stories aren’t new to you, of course. You have your own to tell. Working with payers, one of the 17 Caregiving Systems we manage, navigate and advocate within, can be a nightmare. It’s terrible that it took a murder for the nation to have a conversation about the insanity of managing and navigating health care insurance coverage.
When I think about what we measure within our country to determine the economy’s health, I think we miss the mark.
What if we measured everyone’s stress level? What if the monthly jobs report included our monthly stress number? What if the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention invited us to share our stress number with the organization every month?
I campaigned for the CDC to do just this in 2015 but got nowhere. That’s why I started tracking the stress numbers of family caregivers. I’d love to know yours.
If we’re working with a high stress number, we’re not healthy.
If we’re not working with a high stress number, we’re not healthy.
I believe family caregivers are the bellwether of our nation’s well-being. When we understand the experiences of family caregivers, we understand how well the country, including the economy, is doing.
If we have a country of individuals who have a low stress number, then we have a healthy country. It’s why it’s so important we support and help family caregivers so they feel like they can cope. When the experience is so hard and awful, it’s impossible to cope. That’s stress.
I’d love to know your stress level.
Resources
Join me for quiet reflection to release holiday season on December 18 at 12:30 p.m. ET. Register for The Six Stages of a Caregiving Christmas.
Our 36-Hour Christmas Chat offers a place to go for good company when you need a holiday break.
Our Holiday Survival Guide provides support for you to manage your holidays.
In our latest episode of Caregiver Support Live, we answer two questions: 1. I need to appointment an executor of my will for my disabled son. I asked a younger friend, who is hesitant. What can I do? 2. I took care of our parents and am now taking a vacation. My brother, who didn't help, thinks I'm the bad guy. Am I?