The secondary stressors add to the deterioration of the immune system through causing a breakdown in the caregiver's support system and acting as an aggravating agent to the normal stress in an individuals" life. .
"Currently, family caregivers assist older adults (age 65 years and over) with daily personal care in more than 25 million US households" (Silver, H.J., and Wellman, N.S., 2002, p. S53). This number is expected to increase over time with the number of elderly expected to increase in future generations due to higher life expectancy than in previous generations. This exorbitant number shows justification for future research and implementation of new government assisted programs.
Negative Effects on Receiver of Care.
Helping friends, family members, and loved ones work through offering care without being affected adversely is important to the medical field, the caregiver, and the person receiving care. It is very important since the person in need of care cannot always receive the type of care in a hospital, from health care workers, or non-family members that he/she might receive from a family member. Loving care given by a family member is important to the health and well being of the individual receiving care. "In addition, caregiver burden contributes to complications of care, poor outcomes, and reduced quality of life for the older adult care recipient" (Silver, H.J., and Wellman, N.S., 2002, p. S55).
Positive Effects of Care-Giving.
As research is still being done, positive effects of care giving have also been found. Some individuals come from strong familial backgrounds where their involvement in the care of an elder member of the family is viewed upon as commendable behavior. One may also reap the rewards of performing self-esteem building tasks:.
"Stress can be appraised as harmful or beneficial, which often depends on the coping skills and resources possessed by the individual experiencing the stress.
