![\"Being](\"https:\/\/s3.us-west-2.amazonaws.com\/img.prod.aplaceformom.com\/main\/uploads\/sa-blog\/2015\/06\/Being-a-Caregiver-to-your-Husband-350x350.png\")
<\/h1>\n<\/h1>\nMarriages change over time, from the romance of the early years to the companionship of the retirement years. One major change many couples experience but few are prepared for is the transition to a caregiver-care recipient relationship<\/a><\/strong>. Either partner can need care, but women make up the overwhelming majority of informal caregivers, especially among older adults. Caregiver advocates say looking after a spouse can provide certain benefits, but it also presents risks that caregivers must manage to maintain their well-being along with that of their husbands.<\/p>\n About 20% of American adults provide informal care to older relatives in any year, according to the US Department of Health and Human Services. Of those caregivers, 2\/3 are women, and on average they provide more hours of care each week than male caregivers. (An exception is LGBT male caregivers, who report providing more hours<\/a><\/strong> of care than male caregivers overall.) About one quarter of all older caretakers are looking after a spouse or partner<\/a><\/strong>.<\/p>\n The economic value of all this caregiving is estimated at more than $450 billion per year. There are intangible benefits, too: about half<\/a><\/strong> of caregivers surveyed by DHHS report feeling good about themselves and more appreciative of life because of their caregiving activities. But researchers have found that caregivers are prone to some health problems related to the stress of balancing care with personal time, work, and other responsibilities.<\/p>\n \u201cCaregiver stress<\/a><\/strong>\u201d isn\u2019t just feeling busy. The impact of caregiving responsibilities has measureable effects on caregivers\u2019 health. Caregivers often report letting sleep, healthy eating, and exercise fall by the wayside while they care for a loved one. And older women who care for their spouses are 6 times more likely than average to struggle with depression and anxiety<\/a><\/strong>.<\/p>\n Beyond the general toll of stress, specific care activities like lifting and transferring a disabled partner can raise the risk of back injuries. Dementia patients who become confused or agitated may strike caregivers. For all of these reasons, it\u2019s important for caregivers to know when to take a break.<\/p>\n Symptoms of depression or anxiety (trouble sleeping, lack of enjoyment of daily life, extreme fatigue, panic attacks, or social isolation) are signals that it\u2019s time to ask for help and to see a doctor. Back pain and other injuries are also clear indicators that you need help, along with general fatigue, constant irritability, or feelings of being overwhelmed.<\/p>\n Depending on your level of stress, your budget, and the type of care your husband needs, you may be able to put together a patchwork of in-home help that includes grocery delivery, house cleaning, yard maintenance, and in-home care<\/a><\/strong> for a few hours each day or each week.<\/p>\n Respite care<\/strong><\/a> is another option, and it\u2019s available in many forms. Some home health care agencies provide overnight and weekend care in addition to care during daytime hours. Many senior centers offer drop-off adult day care during work hours. If you need (or want) to travel for several days or longer, many assisted living and nursing facilities offer short-term respite care housing.<\/p>\n As your husband\u2019s care needs change, though, it may be time to consider assisted living<\/a><\/strong> or skilled nursing care<\/a><\/strong>. While aging together in place is an ideal many couples hope for, a professionally staffed facility can be the best environment for people who need specialized dementia care, frequent physical transfers, or high-maintenance daily treatment routines. The change in scene can allow you to simply spend time with your husband, and spend time taking care of yourself, too.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":" Being a Caregiver to your Husband Marriages change over time, from the romance of the early years to the companionship of the retirement years. One major change many couples experience but few are prepared for is the transition to a caregiver-care recipient relationship. Either partner can need care, but women make up the overwhelming majority of informal caregivers, especially among […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2198,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[200,29],"tags":[30],"class_list":{"0":"post-5413","1":"post","2":"type-post","3":"status-publish","4":"format-standard","6":"category-families-caregivers","7":"category-caregiving","8":"tag-caregiving-2"},"acf":[],"yoast_head":"\nCaring for your husband? You\u2019re not alone<\/h2>\n
How caregiver stress can affect your health<\/h2>\n
Signs that you need a break<\/h2>\n
Ways to reduce your stress and keep care quality high<\/h2>\n