September 3, 2024

Easing the Caregiver’s Burden: How Senior Living Communities Support Families

About Brookdale Senior Living

Brookdale Senior Living offers multiple care levels for seniors in more than 600 communities nationwide. Brookdale helps you find the right care plan for yourself or your loved one. With amenities such as transportation services, salons and private dining rooms and activities such as gardening, fitness classes and trivia nights Brookdale caters to a wide range of interests and needs.

associate taking resident's blood pressure

As a healthcare provider, you see firsthand the pressure and strain that caregiving can place on unpaid caregivers, many of whom are family members of your senior patients. While often fulfilling, the caregiving role can lead to emotional, physical and mental exhaustion. This multifaceted stress can undermine caregivers’ well-being and impair their ability to provide care.

Unpaid caregivers are often overwhelmed by the demands of balancing their own lives, careers and families. This can lead to physical exhaustion, emotional burnout and mental fatigue, all of which can negatively impact both caregivers and seniors. The research underscores this reality. For example, in a study conducted by AARP, 40% of caregivers said they were unprepared to take on the role, and more than half were stressed (51%) or worried (51%). Many (40%) also reported feeling overwhelmed.

The economic toll of caregiving can also be substantial. Caregivers may face financial strain due to lost income, reduced work hours or the need to leave the workforce entirely. One analysis found that family caregivers aged 50 and older who leave the workforce to care for an aging parent lose an average of $303,880 in income and benefits over their lifetime. A report from AARP suggests that the estimated 36 billion hours of unpaid care that family caregivers provided in 2021 amounted to an estimated $600 billion. This economic pressure can exacerbate the mental and physical exhaustion that caregivers experience, creating a cycle of stress that can be difficult to break. The U.S. Census Bureau projects that by 2030, the population aged 65 and older will reach 73 million, significantly increasing the demand for caregiving and the pressure on those who provide it without compensation.

The Important Role of Senior Living Communities

In light of this growing need, senior living communities such as Brookdale Senior Living become increasingly important. These communities offer solutions that can help alleviate the economic, physical and emotional strain on unpaid caregivers and help ensure seniors receive high-quality, professional care. This shift can allow caregivers to better maintain their own health and to spend more meaningful time with their loved ones as the family member or friend, rather than in a role of what oftentimes turns into a 24/7 caregiver.

For example, Brookdale offers a range of services designed to enhance both resident care and caregiver well-being:

24/7 professional care: Residents benefit from skilled staff who provide round-the-clock attention, verifying their needs are being met. This comprehensive care approach helps alleviate the pressure on family caregivers to be constantly on call, allowing them to transition from caregiver to care advocate.
Personalized care plans: A personalized care plan addresses residents health needs and preferences, and is updated regularly as needs may change. This individualized approach helps provide them receive the right level of care, which may significantly reduce the stress and burden on caregivers.
Social engagement and activities: Brookdale’s vibrant communities offer numerous opportunities for residents to engage socially, meet new connections, and opt in to various social and enrichment activities, which can help maintain mental and physical health. This supportive environment helps to enhance residents' quality of life and give family caregivers peace of mind, knowing their loved ones have the opportunity to stay socially engaged in a supportive community.
Nutritional and housekeeping services: From healthy, balanced meals to housekeeping, Brookdale takes care of the day-to-day tasks that can be time-consuming and exhausting for caregivers. This allows caregivers to focus on meaningful interactions with loved ones rather than worrying about chores and meal preparation.
Support for healthcare providers: Brookdale also serves as a valuable partner to healthcare professionals by providing quality resident care and maintaining communications with residents’ team of healthcare professionals. The supportive structure of the clinical and social programs and approaches found in senior living communities can lead to better health outcomes for senior residents, reducing the frequency of hospital readmissions and improving overall satisfaction and well-being.

The Compassionate Role of Healthcare Providers

Healthcare providers play an essential role in supporting family caregivers, who are often hesitant to consider senior living communities due to feelings of guilt or anxiety. By offering compassionate guidance, healthcare providers can help caregivers navigate the complexities of caregiving, with the goal of improving their well-being and that of the seniors they care for.

1. Be empathetic. Start by acknowledging the caregiver’s feelings. Validate their feelings of guilt or anxiety, letting them know it’s normal to feel anxious or guilty about making such a significant, life-changing decision.

2. Provide education. Provide clear, factual information about the benefits of senior living communities. Emphasize the professional and compassionate care available, which can help enhance the quality of life for both the senior and the caregiver. Educate caregivers on how senior living communities are designed to provide comprehensive care management, which can lead to improved health outcomes for their loved ones. With regular monitoring by healthcare professionals, seniors in these communities often experience fewer complications from chronic conditions, helping to reduce emergency room visits and hospitalizations.

3. Reframe the narrative. Help caregivers see that choosing a senior living community is not an abandonment of their responsibilities but an opportunity to transition from caregiver to care advocate. This shift allows them to focus on maintaining meaningful relationships and ensuring their loved ones receive the care they need.

4. Encourage caregivers to use resources. Senior living communities provide resources, including assistance with determining the right level of care, financial considerations, moving and downsizing resources, and what to expect in the first 90 days and beyond. Senior living community leaders are well equipped to guide families through these decisions, helping to ease the transition and reduce the overall burden on caregivers.

Ready to Make a Difference?

Brookdale community associates are here to partner with you in guiding senior patients and their caregivers through the complex decision-making process of exploring senior living options. By collaborating with us, you can provide your patients access to support and resources that can ease the burden on caregivers while helping to enhance the overall quality of care for your senior patients. Let’s work together to ensure your patients and their caregivers receive the compassionate guidance they need. Contact us today to learn more about how a partnership with Brookdale can help elevate patient care and provide relief for caregivers.

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