Who are senior citizens? 60-105 years of age 40 year age cohort Still-working / retired

2. Who are senior citizens? • 60-105 years of age • 40 year age cohort • Still-working / retired • Active / frail – at risk • Caregiving for grandchildren/great grandchildren • Caregiving for spouse/parent/ friend/other family • A very varied population

3. Demographic imperative in USA • Baby boomer population Impacts on ALL aspects of community life • Financial/economic • Housing • Transportation • Family • Caregiving

4. Highest suicide rate among older Americans • 19% of suicides are elderly while seniors are 13% of the total population Startling Facts • One elder suicide every 90 minutes in USA • Those between 80 and 85 have 2X the overall rate • Suicide highest among those widowed or divorced • 75% of elderly have visited a health professional within 1 month of suicide (41% within 1 week and 20% within 24 hours)

5. Lethality • Attempts per suicide, all populations: 25 • 24 and younger: 200 • Elderly: 4 • Older persons contemplating suicides are much more likely to act and to use a lethal weapon. A final fact • Older Men commit 81% of suicides within the elderly population.

6. Factors Affecting Elder Suicide • Depression • Living longer with chronic diseases • PAIN • Social isolation • Substance abuse • Widowed. Divorced status • Available means – firearms in the home • Role of caregiver

7. Caregiver Stress • Who is a caregiver? • Anyone who provides help to another person in need • Informal and family caregivers provide 80-85% of care • Needs can include: grocery shopping, cooking, housekeeping, transportation, bathing, giving medicine, dressing, toileting, bill paying, eating • Most Americans will be caregivers at some point in their lives. In any year, 44 million Americans or 21% of adult population are caregivers.

8. Who are Caregivers? • 61% of caregivers are women • Most caregivers are middle aged • 13% are aged 65 years and older • 59% of caregivers have jobs in addition. And half of these have adjusted their work schedules to accommodate their caregiving duties.

9. What is Caregiver Stress? • Caregiver stress is the emotional and physical strain of caregiving. • Guilt • Helplessness • Frustration • Anger

10. Caregiving can be rewarding • Gives you a sense of giving back to your loved one • Makes you feel needed • Helps you to appreciate life • Helps to make one feel good about oneself

11. Caregiving can affect a person’s health • More likely to have symptoms of depression & anxiety • More likely to have long-term medical problems, such as heart disease, cancer, diabetes or arthritis • Spend more days sick with an infectious disease • Weaker immune system, weaker response to flu… • Higher levels of obesity • Higher risk for mental decline, including problems with memory and paying attention • Study found that elders who felt stressed while caregiving were 63% more likelyto DIE within 4 years, compared with those who were not feeling stressed. 11

12. Health effects of caregiving Women caregivers, compared with women who are not caregivers, are less likely to: • Get needed medical care • Fill a prescription because of the cost • Get a mammogram Caregivers report that, compared with the time before they became caregivers, that they are less likely to: • Get enough sleep • Cook healthy meals • Get enough physical activity

13. Warning Signs of too much stress • Feeling overwhelmed/cannot cope anymore • Sleeping too little or too much • Eat, smoke or drink more • Feeling tired most of the time • Loss of interest in activities one used to enjoy • More easily upset, angered or irritated • Feeling constantly worried • Often feeling sad • Frequent headaches, body pain or other physical problems

14. How to relieve or prevent caregiver stress • Take Care of yourself. Every week – every DAY. • Ask for and ACCEPT help – TAKE A BREAK: time off/respite. • Find out about caregiver resources – get informed. • Don’t feel guilty about not being the ‘perfect’ caregiver. • Identify what you can and cannot change and set realistic goals. • Stay in touch with friends and family. • Join a support group. • Find time to be physically active every day. • Try to keep your sense of humor. • See your MD, regularly as needed. • If you work, check out the Family & Medical Leave Act.

15. Emerging trend among the old-old • Homicide/suicides are increasing • Almost all homicide/suicides in older persons involve a husband who kills his wife before killing himself • Each year more than 500 homicides/suicides or 1,000 deaths occur in persons 55 years or older, which means that 20 older persons die each week in USA in a homicide/suicide. • Act of desperation – depression and helplessness 15

16. Homicide/Suicide – what to look for: • Older couple has been married a long time and husband has dominant personality • Husband is caregiver and wife dementia or other condition creating total dependence • One or both have multiple medical problems and the health status of one or both are changing • A move to a nursing home or ALF is pending or under discussion • The older couple is becoming more socially isolated, withdrawing from family, friends and social activities

17. If you suspect or are concerned: • Talk with them. Don’t be afraid to ask. • Get involved and talk about alternatives/options. • Get professionals involved. • Remove weapons and all the other tools of suicide prevention. • Help them to address their concerns. • Don’t let them give up and see such an act as a solution.

18. In all situations with elderly, • INTERVENTION IS KEY. • Show you Care • Help make the last years the best years CONNECT • Connect with the person • Connect with local resources

19. For senior service and program information: • 925-9554 in Santa Maria • 541-0384 in San Luis Obispo • 1-800-510-2020 anywhere in California