Caregiving: a public health priority.

摘要: Byline: K. Shaji, M. Reddy "Health-care" is often seen as a service provided by doctors, nurses and other health professionals. Individuals with problems, especially those chronic illness or disability, need constant care assistance from others. Such "health-care" home-based almost entirely co-resident family members, who are not part of the formal health-care system. This unpaid care, given voluntarily to ill disabled persons their families friends called "informal care". back bone long-term care. Contributions informal caregivers go unnoticed, except benefit However, we must recognize that contributions irreplaceable. No society, rich developed, can afford replace all paid workers. Caregiving an issue, which affects quality life millions people world-wide. Providing particularly for person needing activities daily living, demanding task, requires time, dedication perseveration. Most derive personal satisfaction while caring someone close them enables cope stress burden Until recently nobody considered caregiving public-health matter. [sup][1] Instead, caregiver research focused only on psychosocial dimensions Historic Evolution The nature function has evolved over last two centuries. Life expectancy increased there definite change in profile illnesses. Communicable disorders less prevalent than before. Non-communicable emerging public problems. proportion functional impairment disability also increase. was typically short-term 19 [sup]th century until early 20 century. Now 21 [sup]st century, have more disabling conditions they longer periods time. demand likely increase future. Demographic aging reason world-wide Escalating costs hospitalization institutional leading briefer hospitalizations community Medical advances better survival infants life-long disabilities. Survival adults brain damage serious injuries add Human Resources There tremendous pressure take disabled. As keeps increasing, human resources seem be dwindling. More women taking up employment outside homes supplement income. Even now, majority women. Many men continue being work force. very stressful demanding. They may forced cut-down make suitable adjustments accommodate responsibilities. Burden Impact A survey conducted 2004 United States found were present one five households 21% U.S. population older 18 years engaged providing adult. these (an estimated 34 million 16% population) at least 50 old, some person. (Caregiving Available : 0 http://www.caregiving.org/data/04finalreport.pdf). (83%) caregivers-unpaid such friends, neighbors ages. Though, do comparable data India, it reasonable presume things could similar India elsewhere. provision prolonged time profound consequences caregiver. …