WASHINGTON (AP) – A new poll shows that caregivers too often neglect their own health and doctors miss opportunities to help.
Most caregivers go to medical appointments with the seniors they care for. But the survey by The Associated Press-NORC Center for Public Affairs Research finds that about a third have skipped their own checkups or forgotten to fill a prescription because they were too busy with their caregiving duties.
The survey was released Monday and finds that nearly 40 percent of caregivers have a health problem that impacts their daily life. More than one-quarter say it’s difficult to manage their own health along with the caregiving duties.
One aging expert says caregivers and their charges should be treated together because if the caregiver burns out, the patient may have no one left.
