What Are Some of the Benefits of a Coral Tree Caregiver? How Can They Help?

Respite for Family Caregivers 

Being the sole caregiver for a loved one with dementia or Alzheimer’s can be both physically and emotionally depleting. Family caregivers are less likely to make routine doctor’s appointments, and more likely to report increases in depression and anxiety.

According to EverCare’s 2006 study, Caregivers in Decline, ninety percent of family caregivers reported experiencing more worry and stress; and seventy percent reported spending less time with family and friends: “The caregivers who were surveyed find themselves in a downward spiral of health that worsens as a result of giving care.”

We can help ease the strain and provide respite for family caregivers – be it a few hours a week or helping with full-time care.

Bathing, Dressing, Grooming, Toileting

What we think of as simple daily self-care acts can become increasingly difficult to do on one’s own as our bodies age and become more fragile.

It can be humbling to have to accept help with personal care, but being able to safely shower and dress without fear of falling or hurting oneself can allow older adults to continue to live at home confidently and with dignity.

As well, being able to feel clean every day, to be able to get dressed properly, to have one’s make up and hair done, can help us feel our best, combat depression, and greatly contribute to our sense of self-worth and well-being.

Companionship & Social Interaction

We have seen again and again how the companionship of a kind and loving caregiver can have a profound effect on someone’s life and health.

We often think of caregiving as helping with the physical needs of older adults – and that’s usually why families first contact us: a parent is living alone and has fallen,  for example  – but it is often the emotional and psychological support that our caregivers offer that has the most profound effect on our clients’ well-being. Simply having someone that is a stable, reliable presence in your every day life can make a world of difference in someone’s life.

Studies, such as the classic 1988 “Social Relationships and Health” by House, Landis, and Umberson have shown that social interaction can have as much an impact on physical health as blood pressure, smoking, physical activity, and obesity. And yet the conditions of modern western society often result in older adults ending up very alone and isolated.

“In contrast with the 1950s, adults in the United States in the 1970s were lies likely to be married, more likely to be living alone, less likely to belong to voluntary organizations, and less likely to visit informally with others. Changes in marital and childbearing patterns and in the age structure of our society will produce in the 21st century a steady increase in the number of older people who lack spouses or children – the people who whom older people most often turn for relatedness and support. Thus, just as we discover the importance of social relationships for health, and see an increasing need for them, their prevalence and availability may be declining. Changes in other risk factors (for example, the decline of smoking) and improvements in medical terminology are still producing overall improvements on health and longevity, but the improvements might be even greater if the quantity and quality of social relationships were also improving.”

– “Social Relationships and Health”

Many older adults end up incredibly isolated.

A 2008 University of California San Francisco study found that loneliness directly contributes to a decline in health and premature death in older adults.

“’In our typical medical model, we don’t think of subjective feelings as affecting health,’ says Carla Perissinotto, MD, MHS, assistant professor in the UCSF Division of Geriatrics. ‘It’s intriguing to find that loneliness is independently associated with an increased rate of death and functional decline.'”  (You can read more about Dr. Perissinotto and other UCSF researchers’ finding here: “Loneliness Linked to Serious Health Problems and Death Among Elderly”.)

Continuing favorite activities & hobbies

Being able to engage in activities we love helps keep us physically and mentally active, and can also provide joy, contentment, and a sense of self-worth in our day-to-day lives. This is true throughout our lives, but even more so for older adults. 

Older adults who are able to continue engaging in hobbies actually live longer. One fourteen-year Swedish study found that people who played music, read books, or regularly visited the cinema, concerts, museums, or art exhibitions had greater life expectancy than those who did not.