MerckManuals.com Offers Support to Family Caregivers of Older Adults

November Is National Family Caregivers Month

Supportive information addressing the challenges faced by family caregivers of older adults will be highlighted on MerckManuals.com, an online medical reference, for National Family Caregivers Month in November.

Among the essays displayed at www.merckmanuals.com/home during the awareness campaign is one titled "Avoiding Caregiver Burnout," by Merck Manual contributor Debra Bakerjian, PhD, APRN, a clinical professor at the Betty Irene Moore School of Nursing at UC Davis. The tips can be accessed directly at www.merckmanuals.com/caregiverburnout.

The themed content, which will be featured on the consumer landing page through Friday, November 16, will include an infographic from the Caregiver Action Network on the "Top 10 Tips for Family Caregivers."

"Caregivers take on time-consuming and sometimes challenging duties, such as providing companionship, assisting with bathing and dressing, administering medications, running errands, and navigating the complex health care system," Bakerjian says. "This becomes especially concerning when the workload causes caregivers to neglect their own health care."

Caregiver Crunch
Many family caregivers often have difficulty balancing care for loved ones with managing their own health and well-being. In fact, survey results released in October by the Associated Press-NORC Center for Public Affairs Research found that roughly one- third of caregivers had neglected their own care while taking care of others. 

The demands on this "invisible workforce" are expected to grow as the population ages, notes the AARP, which estimates that more than 40 million Americans provide unpaid care to older relatives or close friends. 

Credible Medical Information for All
Provided as a public service by Merck, access to MerckManuals.com is unlimited and free to all. There is no registration, and the user experience is not compromised by advertising or commercial messaging. 

The website expands on the information contained in The Merck Manuals, a series of medical reference books long trusted by doctors and patients alike.

Online enhancements include expert commentary, infographics, animations, video clips, health calculators and trackers, quizzes, and a guide to pronunciation of medical terms. 

More than 350 medical experts currently serve as contributors; content is reviewed by an independent editorial board and regularly updated online.

Source: Merck