Caring for a loved one often leads to depression

Substantial mental stress in the care of family members
The care of needy relatives is often associated with massive mental stress, so the result of a recent survey by the Forsa Institute on behalf of private care counseling "Compass". Physically, the caregivers sometimes see themselves at the limit of their capacity. In addition, there are increasing difficulties in the social environment. In particular, caring for a patient with dementia is a considerable challenge for carers, according to the survey results.

In the course of the investigation, a total of 1,003 people were interviewed, "who currently care for a person in need of care in their private environment or have cared for it in the past," reports the "Compass" care advisory service. About one third of respondents stated that the person in need of care had a diagnosis of dementia. The majority of cases relate to the care of one parent (46 percent) or the parent of the partner (15 percent).

The care of family members is often associated with significant mental stress. (Image: Alexander Raths / fotolia.com)

High emotional stress
"Overall, 20 percent of respondents often feel overwhelmed with the care," reports "Compass". Two-thirds of caregivers (65 percent) had often or often felt overwhelmed with the care. If the care refers to a person with dementia diagnosis, the helpers are often overstrained. 32 percent of the interviewees had already slipped into a depressive phase through their care. A majority of respondents (73 percent) stated that they perceive care as emotionally / psychologically "very" or "rather" onerous. Due to the care, women would experience a significantly higher emotional / psychological burden than men.

Also physical and social burdens detectable
When asked about the motivations for taking care, 63 percent of respondents said that this was a need and concern. "At the same time, however, 60 percent of respondents feel obliged to the person in need of care," according to the statement by "Compass". Financial reasons, however, would have played a role in the least nurses (9 percent). In addition to psychological stress, physical and social burdens are often associated with care. For example, "50 percent of the respondents said that they find the care to be physically very or rather stressful," reports the Nursing Counseling Service. 52 percent of the interviewees also felt that the care was socially very or rather stressful.

Insufficient information about relief offers
In addition, 20 percent of respondents feel "bad" and 30 percent feel "less well" about existing relief offers. Only 12 percent of respondents said they were "very well informed about the available relief offers", reports "Compass". In this context, the Pflegebevollmächtigte the Federal Government, Karl-Josef Laumann (CDU), told the "Passauer Neue Presse", that the best possible support and relief of caring relatives must be guaranteed. This claim will also be taken into account with the planned adoption of the Second Welfare Act of the coming week. (Fp)