Caregiving Circumstances - 2023 12 04

 

Blue Donkey - paper, ink

When I understand my circumstances I can make sense of the difficulty I am facing and adopt a healthier attitude toward managing and finding solutions.

Mom is awake, the day begins again. We both slept in, it is already almost 830 am.

Statistics Canada reported almost 20% of the Canadian population is over 65 years old in 2022. 

I wish Mom good morning and smile. She is very sensitive to my mental and emotional state of mind. Being with Mom is a lesson in self regulation and maintaining a positive attitude in the midst of difficult circumstances. I have emptied the commode, and brought her juice. 

Statistics Canada reports population projections that 21 to 29% of Canadians could be aged 65 or older by 2068. Source: Table 17-10-0057-01, Statistics Canada, 2022

When I return after eating my own breakfast, I bring Mom her morning cup of tea. She is sitting on the side of her bed with her day clothes on the bed beside her. Her pyjama top is half off. She is getting herself dressed for the day.

"Here is your tea, Mom" I cheerfully announce. 

"Oh, goody! You are a real angel!" She replies enthusiastically. 

I chuckle with gratitude that Mom is such a joyful spirit as I leave the room.

Bai et al (2023) wrote that frailty is prevalent in all age groups. The types of frailty differ in characteristics between early-life (under 65) and late-life (over 65) frailty. Early-life frailty is identified as scoring high for difficulties associated with immunological, mental wellbeing, and pain-related domains. Late-life frailty (over 65) is identified as scoring high for difficulties associated with cardiometabolic, cancer, musculo-skeletal, and sensory-related domains.

Back at my laptop I continue to read and write about the larger circumstances that have led my family to provide a family caregiving setting for Mom. Initially I can hear Mom's laboured breathing as she works to get out of her pyjamas and into her daytime outfit. Eventually I notice I can't hear her breathing and I go in to check on her.

There is currently no international standardization on how to measure frailty. Two models are typically used to measure frailty. The first model measures frailty as a physical syndrome and categorizes individuals as robust, pre-frail, and frail based on reduced grip strength, slow gait speed, weight loss, low physical activity, and exhaustion. The second model defines frailty in broader terms to produce a multidimensional definition. It counts a number of health deficits across medical, physiological, functional and social domains.

In Mom's room I find her tea cup is empty. She is dressed for the day and has rolled back under the covers. Her pyjamas are laid neatly at the foot of her bed. She is fast asleep. I will give her cereal when she wakes up again.

After reviewing the population numbers from Statistics Canada, I did some quick grouping and calculations and realized that, as of 2022, 60% (or less) of the population are providing support and caregiving for 40% (or more) of the population. Additionally, in the past five years, 2018 - 2022 inclusive, population in the young dependent group (age 0 to 19 years) increased 1.52%. The population of earning years group (age 20 to 64 years) increased 3.39%. The population of elderly dependent increased 15.34%. 

These numbers certainly help me understand the dire circumstances we are facing when it comes to family caregiving and ensuring there is enough support to keep our frail elders (and others facing frailty in younger age groups) safe, housed, fed, and warm. Not to mention access to appropriate medical and health supports.

Mom is awake but feeling weak this morning. She wants to have breakfast in bed.