Results from the third annual Alzheimer's Foundation of America (AFA) ICAN: Investigating Caregivers' Attitudes and Needs Survey suggest that Alzheimer's disease care is a family affair.
Most “sandwich caregivers” – the parents or guardians of children under 21 who also care for an aging parent, other relative or friend with Alzheimer's disease – say their children are assisting with caregiving responsibilities that range from attending doctors' appointments to feeding and dressing their loved ones.
Survey results released today found that about three in five caregivers say their children aged 8 to 21 are involved in caring for a loved one with Alzheimer's disease. Of the caregivers who feel they do a good job balancing the care of their loved ones with Alzheimer's disease and children under 21, more than one-third (36%) specifically cited support from children as a contributor to their success.
Among children, ages 8-21, who are involved in caregiving, many are reported as taking on significant tasks:
- About one-third of young adults (ages 18-21) assist with doctors' appointments;
- 42% of young adults assist with transporting loved ones with Alzheimer's disease;
- About one-quarter of young adults and teens (ages 13-17) assist with activities of daily living, such as feeding and dressing;
- Nearly 90% of pre-teens (ages 8-12) visit and entertain a loved one with Alzheimer's disease (please use caution when interpreting results due to small base size);
- Approximately 85% of teens pay visits to the person with the disease.
“Taking care of someone with Alzheimer's disease can be an enormous drain on the caregiver and on family resources. For sandwich caregivers the problem is even more acute. It is clear that caregiving is a multigenerational concern. Young adults and even teens and pre-teens are being impacted in life changing ways by their caregiving responsibilities,” said Eric J. Hall, AFA's president and chief executive officer.
Due to the number of teenagers in caregiving roles, AFA recently stepped up its AFA Teens division, which educates and provides resources for these youngsters. AFA introduced a newly designed Web site, www.afateens.org, specifically for teens and the first of its kind “AFA Teens for Alzheimer's Awareness College Scholarship.” The organization is also starting up AFA Teens chapters nationwide.
CAREGIVERS WANT MORE SUPPORT – FOR THEMSELVES AND THEIR CHILDREN
It is estimated that the 5.7 million Americans caring for aging relatives and loved ones also have children whom they care for. With the United States population aging rapidly, the need for family caregivers will markedly increase in the years ahead.