Accessibility Statement Skip Navigation
  • Why PRWeb
  • How It Works
  • Who Uses It
  • Pricing
  • Login
  • GDPR
  • Create a Free Account
Return to PRWeb homepage
  • News
  • Resources
  • Contact
When typing in this field, a list of search results will appear and be automatically updated as you type.

Searching for your content...

No results found. Please change your search terms and try again.
  • News in Focus
      • Browse News Releases

      • All News Releases
      • Multimedia Gallery

      • All Multimedia
      • All Photos
      • All Videos
  • Business & Money
      • Auto & Transportation

      • Aerospace, Defense
      • Air Freight
      • Airlines & Aviation
      • Automotive
      • Maritime & Shipbuilding
      • Railroads and Intermodal Transportation
      • Supply Chain/Logistics
      • Transportation, Trucking & Railroad
      • Travel
      • Trucking and Road Transportation
      • View All Auto & Transportation

      • Business Technology

      • Blockchain
      • Broadcast Tech
      • Computer & Electronics
      • Computer Hardware
      • Computer Software
      • Data Analytics
      • Electronic Commerce
      • Electronic Components
      • Electronic Design Automation
      • Financial Technology
      • High Tech Security
      • Internet Technology
      • Nanotechnology
      • Networks
      • Peripherals
      • Semiconductors
      • View All Business Technology

      • Entertain­ment & Media

      • Advertising
      • Art
      • Books
      • Entertainment
      • Film and Motion Picture
      • Magazines
      • Music
      • Publishing & Information Services
      • Radio & Podcast
      • Television
      • View All Entertain­ment & Media

      • Financial Services & Investing

      • Accounting News & Issues
      • Acquisitions, Mergers and Takeovers
      • Banking & Financial Services
      • Bankruptcy
      • Bond & Stock Ratings
      • Conference Call Announcements
      • Contracts
      • Cryptocurrency
      • Dividends
      • Earnings
      • Earnings Forecasts & Projections
      • Financing Agreements
      • Insurance
      • Investments Opinions
      • Joint Ventures
      • Mutual Funds
      • Private Placement
      • Real Estate
      • Restructuring & Recapitalization
      • Sales Reports
      • Shareholder Activism
      • Shareholder Meetings
      • Stock Offering
      • Stock Split
      • Venture Capital
      • View All Financial Services & Investing

      • General Business

      • Awards
      • Commercial Real Estate
      • Corporate Expansion
      • Earnings
      • Environmental, Social and Governance (ESG)
      • Human Resource & Workforce Management
      • Licensing
      • New Products & Services
      • Obituaries
      • Outsourcing Businesses
      • Overseas Real Estate (non-US)
      • Personnel Announcements
      • Real Estate Transactions
      • Residential Real Estate
      • Small Business Services
      • Socially Responsible Investing
      • Surveys, Polls and Research
      • Trade Show News
      • View All General Business

  • Science & Tech
      • Consumer Technology

      • Artificial Intelligence
      • Blockchain
      • Cloud Computing/Internet of Things
      • Computer Electronics
      • Computer Hardware
      • Computer Software
      • Consumer Electronics
      • Cryptocurrency
      • Data Analytics
      • Electronic Commerce
      • Electronic Gaming
      • Financial Technology
      • Mobile Entertainment
      • Multimedia & Internet
      • Peripherals
      • Social Media
      • STEM (Science, Tech, Engineering, Math)
      • Supply Chain/Logistics
      • Wireless Communications
      • View All Consumer Technology

      • Energy & Natural Resources

      • Alternative Energies
      • Chemical
      • Electrical Utilities
      • Gas
      • General Manufacturing
      • Mining
      • Mining & Metals
      • Oil & Energy
      • Oil and Gas Discoveries
      • Utilities
      • Water Utilities
      • View All Energy & Natural Resources

      • Environ­ment

      • Conservation & Recycling
      • Environmental Issues
      • Environmental Policy
      • Environmental Products & Services
      • Green Technology
      • Natural Disasters
      • View All Environ­ment

      • Heavy Industry & Manufacturing

      • Aerospace & Defense
      • Agriculture
      • Chemical
      • Construction & Building
      • General Manufacturing
      • HVAC (Heating, Ventilation and Air-Conditioning)
      • Machinery
      • Machine Tools, Metalworking and Metallurgy
      • Mining
      • Mining & Metals
      • Paper, Forest Products & Containers
      • Precious Metals
      • Textiles
      • Tobacco
      • View All Heavy Industry & Manufacturing

      • Telecomm­unications

      • Carriers and Services
      • Mobile Entertainment
      • Networks
      • Peripherals
      • Telecommunications Equipment
      • Telecommunications Industry
      • VoIP (Voice over Internet Protocol)
      • Wireless Communications
      • View All Telecomm­unications

  • Lifestyle & Health
      • Consumer Products & Retail

      • Animals & Pets
      • Beers, Wines and Spirits
      • Beverages
      • Bridal Services
      • Cannabis
      • Cosmetics and Personal Care
      • Fashion
      • Food & Beverages
      • Furniture and Furnishings
      • Home Improvement
      • Household, Consumer & Cosmetics
      • Household Products
      • Jewelry
      • Non-Alcoholic Beverages
      • Office Products
      • Organic Food
      • Product Recalls
      • Restaurants
      • Retail
      • Supermarkets
      • Toys
      • View All Consumer Products & Retail

      • Entertain­ment & Media

      • Advertising
      • Art
      • Books
      • Entertainment
      • Film and Motion Picture
      • Magazines
      • Music
      • Publishing & Information Services
      • Radio & Podcast
      • Television
      • View All Entertain­ment & Media

      • Health

      • Biometrics
      • Biotechnology
      • Clinical Trials & Medical Discoveries
      • Dentistry
      • FDA Approval
      • Fitness/Wellness
      • Health Care & Hospitals
      • Health Insurance
      • Infection Control
      • International Medical Approval
      • Medical Equipment
      • Medical Pharmaceuticals
      • Mental Health
      • Pharmaceuticals
      • Supplementary Medicine
      • View All Health

      • Sports

      • General Sports
      • Outdoors, Camping & Hiking
      • Sporting Events
      • Sports Equipment & Accessories
      • View All Sports

      • Travel

      • Amusement Parks and Tourist Attractions
      • Gambling & Casinos
      • Hotels and Resorts
      • Leisure & Tourism
      • Outdoors, Camping & Hiking
      • Passenger Aviation
      • Travel Industry
      • View All Travel

  • Policy & Public Interest
      • Policy & Public Interest

      • Advocacy Group Opinion
      • Animal Welfare
      • Congressional & Presidential Campaigns
      • Corporate Social Responsibility
      • Domestic Policy
      • Economic News, Trends, Analysis
      • Education
      • Environmental
      • European Government
      • FDA Approval
      • Federal and State Legislation
      • Federal Executive Branch & Agency
      • Foreign Policy & International Affairs
      • Homeland Security
      • Labor & Union
      • Legal Issues
      • Natural Disasters
      • Not For Profit
      • Patent Law
      • Public Safety
      • Trade Policy
      • U.S. State Policy
      • View All Policy & Public Interest

  • People & Culture
      • People & Culture

      • Aboriginal, First Nations & Native American
      • African American
      • Asian American
      • Children
      • Diversity, Equity & Inclusion
      • Hispanic
      • Lesbian, Gay & Bisexual
      • Men's Interest
      • People with Disabilities
      • Religion
      • Senior Citizens
      • Veterans
      • Women
      • View All People & Culture

  • Hamburger menu
  • Cision PRWeb provides efficient communication tools to continuously engage with target audiences across multiple online channels
  • Create a Free Account
    • ALL CONTACT INFO
    • Contact Us


      11AM ET Sunday – 8PM ET Friday

  • Send a Release
  • Sign up
  • Log in
  • Resources
  • RSS
  • GDPR
  • News in Focus
    • Browse All News
    • Multimedia Gallery
  • Business & Money
    • Auto & Transportation
    • Business Technology
    • Entertain­ment & Media
    • Financial Services & Investing
    • General Business
  • Science & Tech
    • Consumer Technology
    • Energy & Natural Resources
    • Environ­ment
    • Heavy Industry & Manufacturing
    • Telecomm­unications
  • Lifestyle & Health
    • Consumer Products & Retail
    • Entertain­ment & Media
    • Health
    • Sports
    • Travel
  • Policy & Public Interest
  • People & Culture
    • People & Culture
  • Send a Release
  • Sign up
  • Log in
  • Resources
  • RSS
  • GDPR
  • Send a Release
  • Sign up
  • Log in
  • Resources
  • RSS
  • GDPR
  • Send a Release
  • Sign up
  • Log in
  • Resources
  • RSS
  • GDPR

First-of-its-Kind Study Looks at the Impact of Rare Disease on Family Caregivers
  • USA - English


News provided by

National Alliance for Caregiving

Feb 28, 2018, 05:00 ET

Share this article

Share toX

Share this article

Share toX

More than 1,400 rare disease caregivers participated in the new national study
More than 1,400 rare disease caregivers participated in the new national study

WASHINGTON (PRWEB) February 28, 2018 -- Findings from a first-of-its-kind national snapshot of caregivers of individuals with a rare disease or condition paint a picture of friends and families facing emotional, financial, physical, and social strain with little support from outside resources.

"The friends and family who care for someone with a rare disease really become experts and the ‘voice of care’," said Nicole Boice, Founder and CEO of Global Genes.

Post this

The National Alliance for Caregiving, in partnership with Global Genes, released findings of an online study by Greenwald & Associates, conducted in late 2017, of 1,406 unpaid caregivers ages 18 and over living in the United States who provide care to a child or adult with a rare disease or condition. It is estimated that at least 25 million Americans currently have a rare disease or condition; the National Institutes of Health estimates that there are approximately 7,000 rare diseases. In this study, over 400 unique rare diseases and conditions were captured, with the most commonly mentioned rare conditions as follows: Cystic Fibrosis (9%), Pulmonary arterial hypertension (4%), Atypical hemolytic uremic syndrome (2%), Ehlers-Donlos syndromes (2%), Fabry disease (2%), Congenital central hypoventilation syndrome (2%), and PANDAS (2%).

Strong Family Connection

The profile of a “rare caregiver” shows a strong family connection between caregiver and recipient: 62% are providing care to a child under the age of 18 with the average age being 20.9 years old; 89% live in the same household as their care recipient; and, 70% of the care recipients’ condition or disease is genetic.

Rare caregivers say more time is spent on managing symptoms than the actual disease: 82% report that treatments or therapies are used for symptom management. Getting access to treatments can be a challenge: 34% report difficulty in accessing treatments for symptom management, and 31% report difficulty in accessing treatment for the underlying disease. One in four reports their care recipient has participated in a clinical trial.

Life-altering Experience

“This study shows that rare caregiving fundamentally alters the daily life of friends and family for many years,” said C. Grace Whiting, J.D., President and CEO of the National Alliance for Caregiving. “Most rare caregivers are providing time-intensive care - 8.9 years on average, and it is a demanding commitment.”

On average, rare caregivers of adults spend about 37 hours a week providing care (12 more hours a week than general caregivers). Even more time is spent in caring for a child: 53 hours a week on average, compared to 30 hours for general child caregivers.

Voice of Care

"The friends and family who care for someone with a rare disease really become experts and the ‘voice of care’," said Nicole Boice, Founder and CEO of Global Genes.

Nearly all reported taking on activities related to care communication and advocacy (94%). Other “voice of care” roles include: educating healthcare professionals about their care recipient’s condition (89%) or helping with medical/nursing tasks (84%) -- a defining feature of rare caregiving, as these tasks remain for the duration of their role. Rare caregivers also become researchers by finding, accessing and managing aspects of participation in clinical trials, including tasks such as paperwork (77%), transportation (65%), trial response documentation (62%), and care coordination (59%).

Stresses and Strain

Rare caregivers report a range of stresses and strains: 74% struggle with a sense of loss for what their care recipient’s life could have been; 67% say providing care to their recipient is emotionally stressful (twice as high as that for general caregivers); 59% exhausted personal savings; 9% have filed for bankruptcy; 53% report feeling alone; 51% report they have difficulty maintaining friendships; and, 37% report high physical strain.

“Despite the impact of caregiving, we see that rare caregivers are not reaching out for support services,” said Boice. Only 33% report use of paid help or aides, 22% have used respite, and 14% rely on an outside transportation service.

“The study uncovers a missed opportunity in the communication the rare caregiver has with healthcare practitioners,” said Whiting. Although 48% have had a doctor, nurse, or social worker ask what was needed to provide care to the recipient, just one in four have had these discussions about their own care needs. “We need to create a dialogue that includes the needs of the rare caregiver,” she added.

The study revealed a ripple effect on rare caregiving families: 24% say at least one youth under age 18 helps; 1 in 10 rare caregivers are students who often struggle to fulfill their school responsibilities; 59% report receiving help from at least one other unpaid caregiver; and, only 35% have a contingency plan in place in case they are unable to provide care.

Policy Recommendations

Findings from the report will be shared formally in a Capitol Hill briefing this spring for Members of Congress. Initial policy findings from the study include:

  • Enhance the health of family caregivers through access to respite and counseling.
  • Achieve financial security and workplace protections for family caregivers.
  • Ensure that family caregivers receive comprehensive training and information.
  • Improve care coordination between skilled home health providers, direct care workers, and family caregivers.
  • Expand services and supports available to family caregivers on the community level.
  • Include the family caregiver as a vital member of the team in healthcare settings.
  • Recognize the family caregiver's role in clinical trial research and innovation.

Get the Report
The report and related materials are available at http://www.caregiving.org/rare.

About the National Alliance for Caregiving
Established in 1996, the National Alliance for Caregiving is a non-profit coalition of national organizations focusing on advancing family caregiving through research, innovation, and advocacy. The Alliance conducts research, does policy analysis, develops national best-practice programs, and works to increase public awareness of family caregiving issues. Recognizing that family caregivers provide important societal and financial contributions toward maintaining the well-being of those they care for, the Alliance supports a network of more than 80 state and local caregiving coalitions and serves as Secretariat for the International Alliance of Carer Organizations (IACO). Learn more at http://www.caregiving.org.

About Global Genes
Global Genes is a leading rare disease patient advocacy organization whose mission is to connect, empower, and inspire the rare disease community. With international scope, Global Genes develops educational resources, programs, and events that unite patients, advocates, and industry experts. Committed to fostering these meaningful connections, Global Genes is driven to catalyze therapeutics and cures for the estimated 7,000 rare diseases that impact approximately 1 in 10 Americans, and 350 million people worldwide. For more information, please visit Global Genes and follow @GlobalGenes on social media to join the RARE conversation!

About Greenwald and Associates
Greenwald & Associates is a full-service custom research firm, specializing in the areas of healthcare, financial services, and employee benefits. Learn more at http://greenwaldresearch.com/.

Amy Losak, National Alliance for Caregiving, http://www.caregiving.org, (201) 862-1394, [email protected]

Modal title

New Rare Disease Caregiving Study from the National Alliance for Caregiving and Global Genes
View PDF
New Rare Disease Caregiving Study from the National Alliance for Caregiving and Global Genes
New Rare Disease Caregiving Study from the National Alliance for Caregiving and Global Genes

Contact PRWeb

  • 11AM ET Sunday – 8PM ET Friday
  • Contact Us

About PRWeb

  • About PRWeb
  • Partners
  • Partnership Programs
  • Editorial Guidelines
  • Resources

Why PRWeb

  • Why PRWeb
  • How It Works
  • Who Uses It
  • Pricing

Accounts

  • Create a Free Account
  • Log in
  • Contact Us

Do not sell or share my personal information:

  • Submit via [email protected] 
  • Call Privacy toll-free: 877-297-8921

Contact Cision

Products

About

My Services
  • All News Releases
  • Online Member Center
  • ProfNet
Cision Distribution Helpline
888-776-0942
  • Legal
  • Site Map
  • RSS
  • Cookie Settings
Copyright © 2025 Cision US Inc.