Pflege: Studie: Pflegende Angehörige benötigen mehr psychische Hilfe

A study evaluating over 81,000 caregiving relatives across Europe, the US, Canada, and Australia found that many neglected their own mental health while caring for loved ones. Every third caregiver expressed a desire for counseling on available aids, yet less than one-sixth actually sought such support. The main issues caregivers reported needing help with included dealing with loss, uncertainty, and guilt.

Caregivers tend to prioritize the needs of the person they care for over their own, according to the lead author, Hannah Isaac from the University of Sydney. The study suggests this mental strain becomes more pronounced when the cared-for person is at their worst. Women were primarily responsible for caring for spouses or partners with chronic illnesses, most often cancer.

The research, which examined 29 studies from the past two decades, found that many caregivers desired support in maintaining social connections, adjusting to new circumstances, and managing changes in sexual relationships. Across countries, 40% of caregivers expressed interest in government offerings like a national hotline or disease-specific information, but only 10% had utilized these services.

In Germany, the Pflegetelefon (caregiver hotline) is a countrywide anonymous and confidential counseling service. The researchers call for routine screening of caregivers for mental strain and their need for supportive care. They note that depression and anxiety are more common among caregiving relatives than in the general population.

Without support and assistance for caregivers, their well-being and ability to support the cared-for person could be compromised.