More stressful to care for partner than parent, poll finds

Meanwhile, few medical schools teach students how to talk with disabled patients about their needs even though nearly 20 percent of Americans have physical or mental disabilities, NPR reports.

The Associated Press: Poll: More Stressful To Care For Spouse Than Mom
You promise "in sickness and in health," but a new poll shows becoming a caregiver to a frail spouse causes more stress than having to care for mom, dad or even the in-laws. Americans 40 and older say they count on their families to care for them as they age, with good reason: Half of them already have been caregivers to relatives or friends, the poll found. But neither the graying population nor the loved ones who expect to help them are doing much planning for long-term care. In fact, people are far more likely to disclose their funeral plans to friends and family than reveal their preferences for assistance with day-to-day living as they get older, according to the poll by The Associated Press-NORC Center for Public Affairs Research (5/19). 

NPR: Doctors' Ignorance Stands In The Way Of Care For The Disabled
Though nearly 20 percent of Americans have physical or mental disabilities, studies show that less than 20 percent of medical schools teach their students how to talk with disabled patients about their needs. More than half of medical school deans report that their students aren't competent to treat people with disabilities, and a similar percentage of graduates agree. Accreditation and licensing boards don't require clinicians to demonstrate knowledge or skills in treating patients with disabilities (Wen, 5/17).