Cystic Fibrosis: The Challenging Role of Caregiver
Statistics about CF caregivers are disheartening
For non caregivers, it’s difficult to describe the lack of resources caregivers experience, along with the stress involved. The percentages for caregivers taking care of cystic fibrosis patients is disheartening. According to Cystic Fibrosis News Today, here are some of the numbers:
- 89% of caregivers live with the patient
- 62% of caregivers are parents caring for their children
- 70% of patients being cared for are disabled due to a genetic factor
- The average caregiving period of time is 8.9 years
- 94% of caregivers go on to be advocates for the disease their patient suffered from.
- 84% of caregivers help with medical and nursing aspects of care
- 74% of caregivers struggle with worries and stress of what the recipient’s life could have been prior to the disease
- 67% of caregivers suffer from emotional stress
- 53% of caregivers feel that they are “alone”
- 51% of caregivers struggle to maintain friendships and relationships outside of caring
- 37% of caregivers experience physical strain on a day to day basis
- 37% of caregivers used paid help or aids to help care for their patient
- 22% used respite services so they could have a short resting period
- 14% of caregivers used outside transportation to get their patient from one place to another
