Caring for the Caregivers: Recognizing the Challenges
A heart attack or cardiac surgery is a major event. It has a ripple effect that impacts not just the patient, but family and friends as well. Lives can change, often for the long term, casting loved ones in the role of caregiver. These changes can be stressful, unexpected and, over time, draining. A report out last week from Health Quality Ontario shows that one of every three people acting as a caregiver to a loved one, experienced feelings of depression, anger or distress. That number doubled from the previous report five years earlier. Many of these caregivers feel that they are too stressed to continue.