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the toll of caring for loved ones with heart issues
support is not only for the sick — those who care for them need help managing loneliness, anxiety and isolation.
nov 13 2020
4 minute read
a survey shows that many caregivers are worried about their health and contracting covid-19.
getty
people who care for loved ones with heart disease or stroke are taking on extra responsibility during the pandemic — and they’re feeling the impact.
the majority of caregivers are reporting concerns over their well-being and say they’re experiencing increased anxiety and feelings of isolation, according to a new survey by heart & stroke . the findings, which include 804 people with heart conditions and 248 caregivers, found that nearly six in 10 caregivers have concerns about their own physical and emotional health. seventy-five per cent say they’re worried about contracting covid-19.
part of the reason why caregivers are so concerned about contracting the virus is because people with heart disease are at greater risk of severe covid-19 outcomes, says director of heart & stroke and author of the survey, patrice lindsay. there’s a fear that if they get sick, they’ll infect their loved one.
“caregivers reported a higher number of concerns for their own personal health than the people with conditions did, and that’s a bit disconcerting,” she says. “we’re heavily relying on informal caregivers, which are usually family members and close friends, to be keeping an eye on the person with the condition… and if their own health is that much more at risk, then the whole system can break down.”
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this is something sherry beattie, 61, can relate to. she’s one of the quarter of canadians who provides care to a loved one with a health condition or issue related to aging. beattie’s husband had a triple bypass on march 10, and she’s been caring for him ever since. beattie has a heart condition of her own, but still does all the grocery shopping as her husband is more vulnerable.
“i’ve told him if he gets covid, he won’t survive it,” she says.
the couple’s adult children were helping out when the pandemic first hit and their workplaces temporarily closed, but now that they’re both back at their jobs, close contact is riskier. it’s lonelier with the social restrictions, but beattie says she and her husband are lucky they live with each other. other people are not as fortunate, she says.
“both my husband and i are part of ‘community of survivors,” beattie says, referring to heart & stroke’s online support group .
“there are some people that… don’t go out because they’re so afraid of catching covid. but by the same token, they’re lonely because they don’t see friends. community of survivors online is a lot busier now with people trying to deal with their loneliness and anxieties.”
the loneliness is felt both by people with heart conditions and their caregivers, the survey also found. two in five canadians living with a condition reported being isolated as a result of physical distancing, and two in five caregivers said the same. (the larger canadian population is also feeling the effects of the ongoing pandemic , reporting higher levels of anxiety and isolation.)
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research shows that caregiving, while often a rewarding experience, can take a significant toll on one’s physical and mental health during “normal” times. according to the canadian public health association, “caregivers have increased levels of stress and depression as well as lower levels of subjective well-being. these stressors can manifest as various illnesses, including ‘burnout.’”
add in pandemic anxiety around contracting covid-19 while caring for someone at greater risk, like those with heart disease, stroke, diabetes or hypertension, and the effects are compounded.
lindsay says virtual visits and connecting with communities online has been helpful in order for heart and stroke patients and their caregivers to combat isolation. five in 10 survey respondents rated virtual appointments as being as good as in-person, and 80 per cent said virtual care was easier than leaving the house and helped ease anxieties.
still, the pandemic offers important learning opportunities to better support caregivers in the future. lindsay says the organization wants to raise awareness about the importance of caregivers and push the government to implement more support for them. they are an unpaid workforce, and their work deserves recognition.
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“[there needs to be more] opportunities for respite care — programs where caregivers can get a break now and then, and not be worried about the safety of the person they’re caring for,” she says.
“we need to ensure there’s support in terms of assisting with the care of the [sick] person, but at the same time, mental health support for the caregivers themselves.”
laura hensley is a writer with healthing.ca.
if you or someone you care about is living with heart disease and stroke, connecting with a support network can help to not only learn ways to better manage their health, but also share experiences with others. some canadian resources include social and peer support at the heart and stroke foundation.
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