A caregiver is anyone who provides help to another person in need. Usually, that person has a serious health condition and needs help with basic daily tasks. Caregivers help with things such as: shopping, cooking, paying bills, giving medicine, bathing, toileting, dressing, eating, and more.
People who are not paid to provide care are known as informal caregivers or family caregivers. The most common type of informal caregiving relationship is an adult child caring for an elderly parent. Others include:
- Adults caring for other relatives, ie, grandparents, siblings, aunts/uncles
- Spouses caring for husbands/wives
- Middle-aged parents caring for disabled adult children
- Adults caring for friends/neighbors
- Children caring for a disabled parent or elderly grandparent.
What is Caregiver Stress?
Caregiver stress is the emotional and physical strain of caregiving. It can take many forms. As a caregiver you may feel:
- Frustrated/angry taking care of someone with dementia who often wanders away or becomes easily upset
- Guilty because you think that you should be able to provide better care
- Lonely because all the time you spend caregiving has hurt your social life
- Exhausted when you go to bed at night
These negative feelings coupled with not taking good care of yourself can lead to serious health issues.
Tips for reducing stress: Search out caregiving support groups, ask for and accept help, say “no” to outside requests that are draining, don’t feel guilty if you are not a “perfect” caregiver, set realistic goals, establish a daily routine, make time to do something for yourself, try to stay physically active, eat healthy, and get enough sleep.
Although caregiving can be challenging, it also has its rewards. It can provide a feeling of giving back to a loved one and of feeling needed—both which can lead to a stronger relationship with the person being cared for. To read more about caregiver stress, visit www.womenshealth.gov/faq/caregiver-stress.cfm