Caregivers Suffer From Depression and Stress

A new study by the National Alliance for Caregiving shows more than 2.5 million home-based family caregivers experience depression, have increased stress and do not manage their own health care needs as they should.

An online survey of 528 caregivers providing an average of 41 hours of care per week revealed that their overall health has declined and stress is a constant factor in their lives. About 91% of caregivers experience depression, and nearly 1 in 4 did not see their doctors as often as they needed to because they put their caregiving responsibilities before their own needs.

The entire study results, funded by Evercare®, can be found here. (9/25/06)

Exercise and Autism

Experts have found that exercise may reduce certain behaviors and increase the attention span of a child with autism. The intensity of the exercise appears to be key, much like the cardiovascular benefit of vigorous exercise being greater than a leisurely stroll. This vigorous activity provides a focused outlet for behavior that can boost the self-esteem of the child and prepare them to lead a healthier life that incorporates physical fitness into a regular routine.

Programs such as the Aqua Pros Swim School in San Diego have added activities that are centered on people with disabilities and have added new techniques to their instruction to accommodate special needs. In five years, this program has more than tripled in size, from 30 students to over 100. Through attention to the needs of the community and adaptation of an established program, the growth of enrollment shows that increased engagement with citizens with special needs is sorely needed in many areas of the country.

Swimming, martial arts, and other individual sports allow the student to perform activities that their peers are engaged in. Individual sports can also circumvent the exclusion of very competitive team sports that may require certain plays or coded communication. (8/9/06)

Are Children with ADHD Actually Under-medicated?

A study conducted by Washington University School of Medicine in St. Louis found that nearly half of the children with ADHD do not receive treatment, despite the popular claim that ADHD medication is over-prescribed. This surprising result comes from a study which focuses on twins only, in an attempt to identify genetic and environmental influences on ADHD.

While the percentage of untreated children with ADHD may seem high, it was not clear how many children participating in the study had not been properly identified by schools or diagnosed by their pediatricians, nor how many of the untreated had parents who declined to place their children on medication.

With the twins studied, if one twin exhibited a form of ADHD, it was likely that the other twin or another child in the family had the disorder. One of the researchers believes that "ADHD is not a single problem, but a group of disorders." They are hoping identifying genetic markers will help develop new treatments. (8/8/06)

ASL Degree Offered for First Time in Texas

Lamar University of Beumont, Texas is now offering the state's first BA degree program in American Sign Language. The chief concerns that brought this program to students focus on the lack of adequately trained professionals to teach and translate for deaf students, and by extension, deaf adults. This program will complement the university's deaf education programs that have been in place for over thirty years.

The importance of a degree in American Sign Language should not be underestimated. First, it recognizes that ASL is a legitimate language, and should be treated as such. At a university that has well established roots in the deaf community, much can be shared beyond textbook learning of accepted signs.

The pairing of a degree in ASL and Deaf Education will likely produce educators that are better equipped to interact fluently with deaf individuals and hearing impaired students immediately after graduation. The recognition of ASL as a foreign language by the state of Texas may also generate more student interest in the language beyond individuals that already have contact with ASL users. (8/8/06)

Coping Strategies for Caregivers Also Help Ease the Grief When a Loved One Dies

A study of depression and coping skills of individuals caring for a loved one has yielded surprising results. Richard Schulz, Ph.D. found that addressing the stresses of daily caregiving led individuals to better cope with daily needs and grief after a patient had passed away. The skills caregivers learned through education and group support during the course of an illness were utilized to address depression before the family member died.

The study included 1,222 caregivers, with an average age of 64, in six cities throughout the United States over four years. There were ten percent less caregivers with symptoms of complicated grief in this study, compared to previous studies by Dr. Schulz.

This sample best represents caregivers for Alzheimer's disease, and was published by the American Journal of Geriatric Psychiatry. However, the skills imparted to these caregivers would be beneficial to all who care for the medical needs of spouses, children, parents, and siblings. (8/6/06)

California Counties Sued for Failure to Accommodate Voters

Five counties in California are the targets of a suit brought by three groups challenging the current voting system in place this past June. These systems, which will still be in effect for November voting, fail to meet federal accessibility requirements, according to the groups suing the secretary of state.

Without knowing the details of the suit, the claim was dismissed by a spokesperson for the state. Among the reasons cited for non-compliance with federal standards are inaccessibility for blind voters to verify their votes.

The basis for the suit is the Help America Vote Act of 2002, which is to present all citizens the same ability to cast votes without interference. (8/6/06)

Planning for an Increase in Elder Care

In response to a projected increase of employed individuals caring for an elderly family member in the coming years, some companies are planning to have emergency care available. This emergency care would alleviate some of the stress on the individual who is dually employed as a caregiver to a family member at home, and at the workplace.

These plans for emergency care stand to benefit employers and employees. The employer would maintain productivity and reduce absences; the employee would have the assurance that their relative would be well taken care of while they are at work, and this coverage would be at a reduced cost.

The Wall Street Journal found that elder care benefits are offered by some companies of 500 employees or more. (7/31/06)

Massachusetts Bill Expands Home Care for Seniors

In a move to save seniors and the state money, Massachusetts is looking toward home care. The bill being discussed seeks to decrease the $2.2 billion that went largely to nursing homes toward less expensive, in-home care.

The bill would increase the options available to the disabled and senior citizens, and would not remove citizens from their homes if they could receive adequate health care there.

The current discussion applies most to those on Medicaid, but awareness of other options beyond a nursing home for care may be brought forward pending the success of this initiative. (7/25/06)

Can a Daily Placebo Really Be Good for You?

A British Medical Journal analysis of 21 studies found that individuals who kept up with a regular routine of taking medicine - even those in the placebo control group – had half the mortality rate of those whose adherence was poor.

The results of this analysis support the "healthy adherer" effect, in which staying with a drug therapy program indicates other healthy choices in the patient's life. The authors of the analysis indicate that individuals that did not stay within program guidelines may have experienced depression or purposely lowered their dosages.

Another researcher stated that adhering to treatments may go beyond a healthy lifestyle. The desire to stick with a regiment of treatment may be the result of a conscious decision to improve one's health during an illness or disease. (7/4/06)