Caregivers of loved ones with heart disease
The majority of caregivers are concerned about their health
According to a new poll by Heart & Stroke, the majority of caregivers are concerned about their health and are experiencing increasing worry and feelings of isolation. Nearly six out of ten carers had concerns about their own physical and mental health, according to the study, which included 804 persons with cardiac problems and 248 caregivers. Seventy-five percent of people are concerned about getting COVID-19.
Covid-19 and patients with heart disease
Part of the reason caregivers are worried about catching Covid-19 is because patients with heart disease are more likely to have severe COVID-19 outcomes, according to Patrice Lindsay, director of Heart & Stroke and survey author. They are concerned that if they become ill, they may infect their loved one.
Sherry Beattie
Sherry Beattie, 61, knows what she’s talking about. She’s one of the quarter of Canadians who looks after a loved one who has a health disease or is dealing with an issue connected to aging. On March 10, Sherry Beattie’s husband underwent a triple bypass, and she has been caring for him ever since. Sherry Beattie has a heart disease of her own, but because her husband is more fragile, she still handles all the food shopping.
The couple’s older children volunteered to help
When the epidemic initially hit and their workplaces were temporarily shuttered, the couple’s older children volunteered to help, but now that they’re both back at work, close contact is hazardous. With the social constraints, it’s more lonely, but Sherry Beattie says she and her husband are glad they live together. She claims that others are not that lucky.
Community of Survivors
Both my husband and I are members of ‘Community of Survivors, Sherry Beattie adds of the online support organization run by Heart & Stroke. Some individuals refuse to go out because they are frightened of contracting COVID. However, they are lonely since they do not see their pals. People attempting to cope with their loneliness and anxiety are flocking to the online Community of Survivors.
Patients with cardiac problems
The poll also discovered that patients with cardiac problems, as well as their carers, are lonely. Two out of every five Canadians with a chronic illness and two out of every five carers stated they were isolated as a result of physical separation. (The ongoing epidemic is having an impact on the wider Canadian population, which is experiencing increasing feelings of fear and isolation.)
Caregivers experience higher levels of stress
Caregiving, while frequently a joyful experience, has been shown to have a substantial impact on one’s physical and emotional health during “normal” times, according to research. Caregivers experience higher levels of stress and sadness, as well as poorer levels of subjective well-being, according to the Canadian Public Health Association. These stresses can lead to a variety of diseases, including ‘burnout.’
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Virtual visits can help
When you add in the fear of getting COVID-19 while caring for someone who is at higher risk, such as someone who has heart disease, stroke, diabetes, or hypertension, the consequences are amplified. Virtual visits and engaging with groups online, according to Lindsay, have helped heart and stroke patients and caregivers overcome loneliness. Virtual appointments were regarded as excellent as in-person by five out of ten survey respondents, and 80 percent said they were simpler than leaving the house and helped them relax.
The government should provide greater help
Nonetheless, the epidemic presents critical learning opportunities for future caregiver assistance. According to Lindsay, the organization’s goal is to raise awareness about the significance of caregivers and to pressure the government to provide greater help. They are an unpaid labor whose efforts should be recognized.
Caregivers need to take a break
More options for respite care — programs where caregivers may take a break without worrying about the safety of the person they’re caring for — are needed, she adds. We need to make sure that there is assistance in terms of aiding with the care of the [ill] individual, as well as mental health support for the caregivers.
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