A new poll conducted by the University of Michigan highlights the impact on the lives of the spouses, grown children and other family members and friends who act as caregivers for up to five million Americans with dementia.

The poll also reveals the positive side of caregiving, with 85 percent of family caregivers calling it a rewarding experience. In fact, 45 percent rated it as “very rewarding”, compared to 19 percent who called it “very stressful”. However, 40 percent of those who called dementia caregiving very stressful also said it was not rewardinAnother potential benefit? Perspective. Ninety-one percent of the caregivers said they had thought about their own future care needs because of their experience taking care of someone with dementia.

Right now, though, 66 percent of dementia caregivers say their duties interfere with their own life and work – including 27 percent who said they had neglected something related to their own health because of caregiving’s demands on their time.

Only 1 in 4 had taken advantage of resources designed to help caregivers, but 41 percent of those who didn’t expressed interest in such support.

The poll was conducted by the University of Michigan Institute for Healthcare Policy and Innovation. It is sponsored by AARP and Michigan Medicine, U-M’s academic medical center.

Go to www.healthyagingpoll.org/report/november-2017-report-dementia-caregivers-juggling-delaying-and-looking-forward for more information.