Could caregiving actually boost your longevity? Look inside the findings of Johns Hopkins research and discover how the way you approach caregiving could make all the difference.
With demands on time, energy, emotions and relationships, caregiving isn’t easy. So you might think it would take its toll on the physical health of those who care for family members with chronic conditions.
But new research offers a positive surprise: Family caregivers may live longer.
This longevity advantage emerged when a team of scientists led by Johns Hopkins experts looked at six years of health data for 3,503 caregivers and an equal number of non-caregivers.
Those who regularly tended to the needs of a family member enjoyed a nine-month extension in life expectancy—even if they felt some stress and strain. The researchers also saw no differences in chronic health issues between the two groups.
“Taking care of a chronically ill person in your family is often associated with stress, and caregiving has been previously linked to increased mortality rates,” says David L. Roth, Ph.D., director of the Johns Hopkins Center on Aging and Health. But this study’s results painted a much more hopeful picture. “In many cases, caregivers reported receiving benefits like enhanced self-esteem, recognition and gratitude from their care recipients,” Roth adds.
If you are a caregiver—or know one—these smart strategies could help harness this advantage.
Stay social.
In an earlier Johns Hopkins study, researchers found that caregivers who stayed connected with friends and other family members had better emotional health than those who felt isolated, says researcher Peter Rabins, M.D., M.P.H., director of geriatric psychiatry.
Request specific help so you can get away, Rabins suggests: “Could Mom stay with you for a week in April?” or “Could you spend two hours with Bob next Wednesday while I take the afternoon off?”
Make your own health a priority.
Eat well, carve out time for exercise (even in short bursts) and get the medical care you need, including checkups, tests and flu shots. About one in six caregivers say their responsibilities take a toll on their physical well-being. In one survey, three-quarters of caregivers who were in fair to poor health didn’t see their doctors as recommended. More than half admitted to less-than-healthy eating and exercise habits.
Draw strength from your faith.
Caregivers who found meaning in their work through their religion or spiritual beliefs also had better emotional health in our study, even if they didn’t go to religious services,” Rabins says.