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Image of caregivers comes into focus

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JANESVILLE — Rock County has a better picture of who its caregivers are now that initial results of a countywide caregiver survey are coming in.

Caregivers make up two different groups and are either just starting to provide care or have been for up to five years, according to Mary Brintnall-Peterson, UW Extension professor emeritus.

Brintnall-Peterson shared that information Thursday with those gathered Rock County Caregivers Coalition presentation. The coalition is conducting the survey through Dec. 31.

The survey was initially offered in August and will be conducted through Dec 31. As of Wednesday, 219 people had taken it.

"A lot of good research is done with those kinds of numbers, but the more we can get people to respond, the better it will be," said Brintnall-Peterson.

The survey will help the coalition, which formed in June, learn specifics about caregivers in the county, and identify their needs and the programs they use plus to use as a guide for its work, she said.

The snapshot it has provided so far, Brintnall-Peterson said, indicates most caregivers are white women from Janesville between the ages of 45 and 65 who care for a parent.

Initial results also imply caregivers are challenged more emotionally than physically or financially, and that they lack assistance but are reluctant to ask for help. More than half said caring for others was affecting their own health to some degree, and all but 11 said it interfered with their free time.

The survey also revealed that nearly half of respondents work full-time and that 50 percent missed work due to providing care. Forty-three percent considered reducing their work schedule while nearly 18 percent left work or lost their job because of their caregiving responsibilities, Brintnall-Peterson said.

Upon studying the results, Brintnall-Peterson said she senses that "many caregivers are doing well but on the brink of being overwhelmed, are concerned about the future and seeking information about planning for it, aren't aware of the support systems in the community, don't understand how community supports can benefit them and are in multiple generational families and living with their adult children."

The coalition will host a meeting Wednesday, Jan. 19, to formalize a committee structure, develop a mission and vision statement and identify future action plans and goals. The meeting is open to the public.

TAKE THE SURVEY

The Rock County Family Caregiver Coalition offers three ways for people to take the countywide family caregiver survey:

-- Click here to take the survey

-- Call (608) 758-8455 to request a paper survey or complete the survey over the phone

Those with questions can call Julie Seeman at (608) 755-8455 or e-mail seeman@co.rock.wi.us