Skip to Content
Homewatch CareGivers
LocationsIcon of Map Pin
  • Caregiver Jobs
  • Franchise Opportunities
  • Care Community Blog
  • Contact Us
close
  • Back
  • Home
  • About Home Care
    • Back
    • What is Home Care
    • Types of Care
    • Financing Options
    • Cost
    About Home Care Homewatch CareGivers® believes good care should not interfere with your quality of life. We deliver the compassionate care our clients need to help complete day-to-day activities while still maintaining a healthy dose of independence.
  • Types of Care
    • Back
    • Elder Care
    • 24-Hour Care
    • Child Care
    • Respite Care
    • Senior Transportation Services
    • Companion Care
    • Hospital Discharge
    • Chronic Conditions Care
    • Dementia Care
    • Nursing Services
    • After Surgery Care
    • Personal Care
    Types of Care Our clients have many different reasons for requiring care, so we strive to provide services tailored to their individual needs and circumstances. Homewatch CareGivers delivers various types of in-home care that focus on the whole person—not just their condition.
  • Resources
    • Back
    • ALS
    • Arthritis
    • Dementia
    • Developmental Disabilities
    • Diabetes
    • Heart Disease
    • Parkinson's Disease
    • Senior Safety
    • Stroke
    • For Health Care Providers
    • Ask The Experts
  • Our Story
    • Back
    • Team Bios
    • Facts & History
    • National Quality Forum
    • Home Care Association of America
    Our Story Homewatch CareGivers was founded on the concept of person-directed care: focusing on the specific needs of the individual and treating each client as a whole person, not just a condition. We strive to provide in-home care services that allow people to continue living safely and happily in their own homes.
  • Why Choose Us?
    • Back
    • Our Caregivers
    • Questions to Ask
    • Homewatch CareGivers University
    • Client Testimonials
    • In-Home Senior Safety
    Why Choose Us? Let our family care for yours. At Homewatch CareGivers, we value not only highly qualified caregiving services but also human interactions and relationships. Our people make the difference.
LocationsIcon of Map Pin

Menopause and Caregiving

Menopause and Caregiving Dec 19, 2011
Blog Categories
  • A Business with a cause
  • Addressing Isolation & Loneliness
  • Coping and Caregiving
  • Cost of Care
  • Dementia
  • Elderly Parent Care
  • Essential Caregiver Skills
  • Events
  • Falls Prevention
  • Family Caregiver
  • Franchise
  • Franchising
  • Health & Wellbeing
  • Home Care
  • Homewatch CareGivers
  • In-Home Safety
  • Job Fair
  • Local
  • Long Term Care
  • Long Term Care Options
  • Passion of Caregiving
  • Planning Ahead
  • Senior Care & Aging
  • wandering

The typical in home caregiver is a middle-aged woman, which means that the typical in home caregiver is likely experiencing some aspect of menopause.

Menopause is the time of a woman’s life when her menstrual cycle stops as the ovaries’ function is reduced and estrogen and other hormones are reduced. The average age for menopause is 51, but the symptoms can be felt for years prior to and during this change.

“With the added burden and stress that result from care giving, there is certainly the potential that women experiencing menopausal symptoms of mood changes, anxiety, irritability, sadness, and insomnia could be at increased risk of developing clinical depression or have exacerbation of current psychological symptoms,” said Dr. Diane Pace, PhD, a family nurse practitioner and past president of the North American Menopause Society.

Pros and Cons

In a July 2011 article titled “The Stress of Care Giving in Midlife Women,” by Dr. Judith A. Berg, PhD, the author points out both the positive and negative aspects of care giving for this population. Noting that some in-home senior caregivers “experience an improved sense of well-being linked to personal growth and fulfillment,” Berg states that the majority of these caregivers experience “negative consequences.” These negative consequences include “lowered life satisfaction, interpersonal conflict, psychological distress, social isolation, sleep disturbances, disturbed eating patterns” and more. Part of the dynamic includes working at least part-time, raising children, maintaining relationships, all while caring for a sick and/or elderly loved one and providing home care assistance.

“Although most women make the transition into menopause without experiencing depression, many women report symptoms of depressed mood, anxiety, stress and a decreased sense of well being,” said Pace. “Women with a history of clinical depression may be more vulnerable to recurring depression during midlife change.”

The National Alliance for Caregiving in collaboration with AARP published “Care Giving in the U.S.: A Focused Look at Those Caring for Someone Age 50 or Older” in November 2009. Although approximately 46 percent rate the emotional stress of care giving low (a one or two on a five-point scale), 22% indicate they have moderate stress, and about one third (31 percent) rate the emotional stress of care giving as high (a four or five).

For some, there is an overlap of symptoms—such as sleep loss from hot flashes or getting up in the middle of the night to help an elderly parent with Alzheimer’s disease—and this can cascade into aggravating both situations.

Advice

The North American Menopause Society also has online resources for those going through menopause. One article on their website provides tips on how to distinguish between mood swings and depression. There are also details on hormone and non-hormone prescriptions and treatments for a variety of menopause-related symptoms. “Although data are insufficient to promote consensus recommendations regarding efficacy and safety, women who are not considering prescription interventions might want to be consider options such as soy foods or isoflavone supplements, black cohosh and omega-3 fatty acids,” said Dr. Pace. “Additionally layering clothing to allow adding or removing clothing during flushes, use of a product, Chillow, to help with cooling body temperature, and wicking clothing may help. Therapies such as acupuncture, bio-feedback, massage may provide symptom relief, and certainly counseling should be considered if the symptoms and the stress of care giving are causing significant issues with coping and functioning.”

Some of the advice for relieving the burden and stress of care giving is the same as for relieving the symptoms of menopause. “Although care giving creates incredible challenges on time resources, women need to be reminded that they need to schedule some “personal” time for caring for themselves,” said Dr. Pace. “Health activities like regular visits to their own healthcare provider, nutrition management, exercise, and smoking cessation will promote their ability to continue in the care giving role with less stress on their own health.”

Posted By Homewatch CareGivers
  • Share
Blog Home - Previous Post | Next Post
More Posts Like This
  • Dementia Warning Signs: Could You Miss Them?
    Dec 2, 2019

    Dementia Warning Signs: Could You Miss Them?

    Even a doctor can miss the signs of dementia in a loved one. Read here to find out some of the early signs that aren't memory loss in someone who is living with the disease.

    Read More
  • Keeping Seniors Secure When Scammers Call
    Dec 2, 2019

    Keeping Seniors Secure When Scammers Call

    Can a professional caregiver be part of the solution when keeping Mom and Dad safe from scammers? That's one possibility. Read more about who is at risk for scams and how to avoid them.

    Read More
  • Caregiver Survival Tips for the Holidays
    Dec 2, 2019

    Caregiver Survival Tips for the Holidays

    Good news: you don't have to do it all as a family caregiver! Lisa Shultz shares her tips on how to do juggle better or simply do less during the holiday season.

    Read More
Homewatch CareGivers Caregiving Services
Find Your Location
Help & Info
  • About Homecare
  • Types of Care
  • Financing Options & Programs
  • Our Resources
  • Owner Login
Our Company
  • About Us
  • Contact Us
  • Caregiver Jobs
  • Blog
  • Franchise Opportunities
Other
  • National Homepage Homewatch CareGivers University Login Privacy Policy
  • Site Map
  • Accessibility Notice
  • HIPAA Disclaimer
Follow Us On

Part of the Authority Brands Family

Authority Brands is the leading provider of in-home services, building brands that support the success of franchisees as well as better the lives of the homeowners we serve and the people we employ.
  • America's Swimming Pool Co.
  • Benjamin Franklin, The Punctual Plumber
  • The Cleaning Authority
  • Homewatch Caregivers
  • Mister Sparky
  • Mosquito Squad
  • One Hour Heating & Air Conditioning
Copyright © 2019 | Homewatch CareGivers® is a trademark owned by Homewatch International, Inc.™ and licensed for use to independently-owned franchised businesses that offer caregiver services to the public. All personal services, elderly care, caregiving and home care services offered OR provided under the Homewatch CareGivers™ mark are offered and provided only by independently-owned franchises and, where required, licensed OR registered businesses and care agencies. Scorpion Franchise Internet Marketing
x

⚠

Your browser is out of date. To get the full experience of this website, please update to most recent version.

Update My Browser