Study: Sick Spouse Bad for Your Health (caring for a dying loved one will hasten your own death)

AP ^ | 2/15/2006

[Bear_Slayer]

Great - just great!

[dakine]

Water is wet...

[Incorrigible]

So what happens when you have a disabled wife and child?

Guess I need to purchase that pre-planned funeral sooner than I thought!

[deaconjim]

And exactly how much money did our government give them to conduct this breakthrough research? All they had to do was ask me and I could have told them all they needed to kow.

[Vn_survivor_67-68]

So quick onset of significant depression in people over 65 debilitates them physically as well.

I don't need a case/control study to document common sense, LOL.

[umgud]

My ex will live to be one day older than me just out of spite.

[LiveFreeOrDie2001]

Probably like me dying of loneliness.

[CindyDawg]

Sometimes the spouse gives up when one passes on. I haven't noticed the illness part though. Most are really health concious because "what will happen to him/her if I get sick".

[MizSterious]

I've always known that caring for a loved one takes a toll, which is why when Freepers ask for prayers, I always include their families, too. I doubt if even the caregivers themselves realize how much they give--but would any of us do it any other way? (I mean, except for that Schiavo guy...)

[ardara]

I visit a Nursing home where I see great people taking care of their loved ones every day.I have always felt these wonderful people will go straight to heaven. Not a bad place to get to sooner.

[Decepticon]

The researchers blame the stress and the loss of companionship, practical help, income and other support that can occur when a spouse gets sick.

No crap? I 'm glad we have these geniuses to tell me, I could have never figured it out on my own.......

[Lesforlife]

This kind of study will encourage more pulling the plug, imo.

[fortunecookie]

Personal experience confirms it for me as one example, though it just seems to be common sense. My mother nursed my father through a very lengthy illness, it was a almost a year until he was back to his old self. She died unexpectedly a few months later.

[luckystarmom]

I hope this is wrong. My brother died last year, and it would be terrible if anything happened to his wife.

[freekitty]

Another stab at marriage and another stab at family. They just don't quit.

[ronnied]

in a generation or two it won't matter, the first one to stub the toe will be considered a throwaway, disposable, etc. god bless these people pushing wheelchairs holding something near & dear to them to their destination. i've never gave them much thought, what they are going through,what they were thinking. i guess i considered them part of the scenery. now i know what it means to stop & smell the roses & realize how fragile we all are.

[Ladysmith]

Not only that, but it gives them more reason to push the "right to death" causes. Just put down your ailing loved one for the sake of your own health.

Some days, I can't wait to get off this rock myself. Insane world.

[Straight Vermonter]

As someone who has cared for an ill wife for >10 years I can say that it has certainly been true in my case.

In my opinion on factor is that the time required to take care of a loved one eats into the time available for doing things like exercising. I think that has to be tied to the declining health of a care giver.

[nmh]

So does liberal logic dictate the you euthanize them so you won't be tainted and live longer ?

People are sooooooooooooo cold hearted today. That's when a person needs you the MOST.