Am Fam Physician. 2011 Jun ane;83(xi):1309-1317.

Patient information: See related handout on caregiver care, written by the authors of this article

  Related Close-ups

Article Sections

  • Abstract
  • Intendance Recipients and Caregivers
  • Caregiver Burden
  • Caregiver Cess
  • Supporting Caregivers
  • Special Caregiving Scenarios
  • Public Policy
  • References

In 2009, nigh 66 meg Americans (three in 10 U.S. households) reported at least one person providing unpaid care as a family caregiver. More adults with chronic conditions and disabilities are living at home than ever before, and family unit caregivers have an even higher level of responsibility. Caring for loved ones is associated with several benefits, including personal fulfillment. However, caregiving is also associated with physical, psychological, and financial burdens. Principal care physicians can aid in the identification, support, and handling of caregivers past offering caregiver assessments—interviews directed at identifying high levels of burden—as soon as caregivers are identified. Repeat assessments may be considered when there is a change in the status of caregiver or care recipient. Caregivers should exist directed to appropriate resource for support, including national caregiving organizations, local area agencies on aging, Web sites, and respite care. Psychoeducational, skills-training, and therapeutic counseling interventions for caregivers of patients with chronic atmospheric condition such as dementia, cancer, stroke, and middle failure take shown small-scale to moderate success in decreasing caregiver burden and increasing caregiver quality of life. Farther research is needed to further identify strategies to beginning caregiver stress, depression, and poor health outcomes. Boosted support and anticipatory guidance for the intendance recipient and caregiver are particularly helpful during care transitions and at the care recipient's end of life.

A family unit caregiver is broadly divers as a friend or relative who provides unpaid assistance to a person with a chronic or disabling condition.1 In 2009, nigh 66 meg Americans (three in 10 U.S. households) reported at least one person providing unpaid care as a family caregiver.one

Lxxx percent of adults requiring long-term care currently live at home or in the community, and unpaid family caregivers provide 90 percent of their care.1,2 These caregivers fill an important role for their families and provide an estimated $375 billion in cost savings nationwide.three Family caregivers serve as a critical extension of the formal wellness intendance arrangement, and supporting family unit caregivers has recently emerged as a national public wellness priority.2,4

In the next few decades, the demand for family caregivers is expected to rise past 85 percentage.2 This growing need for caregivers is the result of several factors, including shorter hospital stays, changes in insurance reimbursement, limited infirmary discharge planning, an increase in home care technology, and an aging U.S. population. By 2030, i in five adults will be 65 years or older.2

In improver to the growing demand for caregivers, family caregiving has been affected in several important ways over the past 5 years: caregivers and care recipients are older and have higher levels of inability than in years past; the duration, intensity, and brunt of care has increased; the financial cost associated with informal caregiving has risen; and the utilise of paid formal intendance has declined significantly.5

SORT: Central RECOMMENDATIONS FOR Exercise

Clinical recommendation Prove rating References

Family unit caregivers should be offered a caregiver assessment to identify high levels of brunt.

C

1, 2, 6

Encouraging caregivers to take a break, accept care of their own health, maintain a salubrious nutrition, do, seek preventive health care, join a support grouping, and seek respite intendance when needed are key ways to provide straight caregiver back up.

C

2

Caregivers identified every bit having unmet educational and advisory needs should be directed to advisable resources.

C

1, 7

Psychoeducational, skills-preparation, and therapeutic counseling interventions have small to moderate success in decreasing brunt and increasing quality of life for caregivers of patients with chronic atmospheric condition such every bit dementia, cancer, stroke, and heart failure.

B

2528, 3234, 37, 38, 5153


Care Recipients and Caregivers

  • Abstract
  • Care Recipients and Caregivers
  • Caregiver Burden
  • Caregiver Cess
  • Supporting Caregivers
  • Special Caregiving Scenarios
  • Public Policy
  • References

Care recipients are typically female and average 69 years of age. They are older and mostly less good for you than in the past twelvemonth. At least half of care recipients rely on their caregivers to aid with one or more activities of daily living (e.g., bathing, dressing), and a majority crave aid with four or more instrumental activities of daily living (due east.g., managing finances, shopping, taking medications).half-dozen 70 percent of intendance recipients have ane or more chronic medical weather.six

Family caregivers are typically women, often the daughter or spouse of the care recipient, and average 49 years of age.6 I-third of family unit caregivers accept provided treat more than than five years, and the majority provide twenty to 39 hours of unpaid caregiving each week.six

Caregiver Burden

  • Abstruse
  • Care Recipients and Caregivers
  • Caregiver Burden
  • Caregiver Assessment
  • Supporting Caregivers
  • Special Caregiving Scenarios
  • Public Policy
  • References

Caring for loved ones has several benefits, including personal fulfillment and satisfaction from helping to save another's suffering.7 All the same, caregiving is too associated with physical, psychological, and fiscal burdens for caregivers. Stressors associated with caregiving situations are oft persistent, uncontrollable, and unpredictable, with ane-third of all caregivers describing a high burden of intendance.2 Caregivers reporting the highest burden are more likely to be less educated, to live with the care recipient, and to perceive they had no choice in assuming the caregiver role. A majority of caregivers written report having less time for family and friends; having increased emotional stress; and neglecting self-care, such as healthy sleep, exercise, and dietary habits.2

Health Effects

I of the greatest risks for caregivers is condign ill themselves.8 Caregivers take higher rates of indisposition and depression, are at risk of serious illness, and are less likely to appoint in preventive health measures. One-half of all caregivers accept at to the lowest degree i chronic condition.five,9,x One in 5 caregivers describes his or her health as off-white or poor, and 17 pct believe that their health has deteriorated equally a event of providing care, particularly those who take been providing treat five or more than years or who have shifted from low-cal to heavy duty.ii Spousal caregivers reporting high levels of strain have a 23 percent higher Framingham Stroke Risk than their non-caregiver counterparts, equally well as increased all-cause mortality (as high every bit 63 per centum in iv years).11,12 Ane-half of caregivers report that the decline in their own health compromises their power to provide care for the care recipient.ii

Fiscal Burden

Many caregivers adjust their piece of work schedules, take leaves of absenteeism, or reduce work hours as a effect of intendance responsibilities. More than xl percent of caregivers have an annual household income less than $50,000, yet a majority report spending their own coin to take intendance of the care recipient; in 2007, boilerplate out-of-pocket expenses for caregivers was $5,531, representing approximately x pct of the caregiver's almanac income.ii,6 Additional costs include loss of bacon and benefits, loss of promotional and training opportunities, and a reduction in retirement savings and Social Security benefits. Female caregivers who provide care for their parents are 2.five times more than probable than non-caregivers to live below the poverty level.5

INADEQUATE Training

A bulk of caregivers (81 percent) feel inadequately trained for the skills that they perform, having never received whatever formal education in caregiving.5 The top unmet needs of caregivers include keeping care recipients safe at habitation, managing emotional and concrete stress, finding easy activities to do with the recipient, and having enough fourth dimension for themselves. A majority of caregivers study needing more information most support services (77 percent), and they are most likely to use the Internet (29 percent) or their doctors (28 pct) as master sources of additional caregiving data.half-dozen Therefore, chief care physicians are uniquely positioned to assistance in the identification, support, and treatment of caregivers.

Caregiver Assessment

  • Abstract
  • Care Recipients and Caregivers
  • Caregiver Burden
  • Caregiver Assessment
  • Supporting Caregivers
  • Special Caregiving Scenarios
  • Public Policy
  • References

Caregiver assessment refers to a systematic procedure of gathering data well-nigh a caregiving situation to identify needs, strengths, and resources for the family caregiver. It can be performed by the caregiver's dr., if time permits, or by other health intendance team members, including a social worker or case manager.7 In 2005, the National Consensus Development Conference for Caregiver Assessment developed a fix of guiding principles and practice guidelines, which accept been promoted past numerous national organizations and incorporated into the Guided Intendance model as central components for chronic intendance delivery.1,5,7,13

According to these guidelines, caregiver assessment is a multidimensional process that should embrace a family-centered perspective and focus on ways to keep the caregiver on the chore while promoting health and safety.5 Information technology includes understanding the context in which the caregiver provides care and exploring the caregiver's perception of the intendance recipient's functional status, likewise as the caregiver'due south values and preferences. Evaluation of caregivers should also include perception of their own well-being, perceived challenges and benefits of caregiving, confidence in their abilities, and the demand for additional support systems. The findings from these assessments are used to develop a intendance plan and to identify appropriate support services.1

A complete assessment can be offered to any person who self-identifies every bit a caregiver. Because many do not self-identify, it may help to identify assessment candidates by describing caregivers every bit the care recipient's friends and family unit who provide help.13 Initial assessment may exist performed as shortly as a caregiver is identified, whereas echo assessments can be offered as the care recipient's or caregiver's status changes.1

Physicians may simply have time to identify caregivers during an office visit and may refer these persons for full assessments. Referrals for cess may be triggered by a diagnosis of a medical status associated with high burden for caregiving (e.g., dementia, heart failure, stroke, cancer), change in functional status of a caregiver or care recipient, or intendance transitions. Table 1 lists practical questions to include in the caregiver assessment.7 Additional applied tools for physicians are available from national organizations, including a toolkit from the Family Caregiver Brotherhood.7,1417 A number of well-validated tools to specifically appraise caregiver brunt are also available, such as the Caregiver Burden Inventory18  and the Adjusted Zarit Interview (Table 2nineteen).1820

Table 1.

Guidelines for Caregiver Assessment

Areas to assess Possible questions Examples of potential implications

Context

Relationship to intendance recipient

What is the caregiver'south relationship to the care recipient?

Provides information on dynamics of relationship between caregiver and care recipient

Quality of family unit relationships

How would the caregiver rate his or her quality of family unit relationships?

Self-identified poor quality of relationships may correlate with higher brunt levels

Physical surroundings

Does the intendance recipient live in the same household with the caregiver?

Caregivers who alive with recipients tend to provide more than care

Elapsing of caregiving

How long has he or she been in the caregiving role?

Longer duration of care is associated with a higher likelihood of burden

Financial and employment status

Is the caregiver currently employed? Full-time or part-time?

Identifies financial brunt

What is the caregiver's household income?

What has been the financial strain, if any, on the caregiver considering of his or her caregiving role?

Household condition

Is the caregiver married? Does the caregiver have children? How many persons live in the caregiver'due south household?

Identifies additional caregiving stressors and potential resources for support

Are other family members or friends involved in the intendance?

Caregiver'due south perception of recipient's health and functional status

Activities of daily living

Can the care recipient carry out activities of daily living (e.g., bathing, dressing) without help? Instrumental activities of daily living (e.g., managing finances, shopping, taking medications)?

Assesses type and intensity of care needed

Identifies need for supervision

Psychosocial needs Cognitive impairment Behavioral problems

Does the care recipient accept any mental health diagnoses or emotional issues? Any memory loss or cognitive harm?

Cognitive impairment and emotional and behavioral issues increase the likelihood of caregiver brunt

Does the intendance recipient have any behavioral problems? How ofttimes do they occur and how much practice they carp or upset the caregiver when they happen?

Medical tests and procedures

What medical tests have been done or are needed?

Assesses type and intensity of care needed

Caregiver'due south values and preferences

Caregiver and intendance recipient willingness to presume and accept care Perceived filial obligation to provide intendance

Is the caregiver willing to assume the caregiver role?

Burden levels are higher in caregivers who feel they had no choice in assuming the role

Is the care recipient willing to accept care?

Does the caregiver experience he or she is obligated to provide care?

Culturally based norms

What types of intendance arrangements are considered culturally acceptable for this family unit?

Provides insight into additional support for the caregiver and recipient

Caregiver's well-being

Self-rated health

How does the caregiver rate his or her own health? Does the caregiver rate his or her own health equally better than, about the same as, or worse than it was six months agone?

Caregivers who rate their ain health as poor are at higher gamble of serious medical complications, including increased mortality

Wellness conditions and symptoms

Does the caregiver have any health conditions or symptoms? How often in the past half-dozen months has the caregiver had a medical exam or received handling for wellness problems from a primary care medico? How often does the caregiver go a full night'southward slumber?

Assesses need for the caregiver to focus on his or her own health Assesses result of caregiving on sleep deficiency, which tin can contribute to increased morbidity and mortality

Depression or other emotional distress

How oftentimes does the caregiver experience anxious or angry when in the presence of the care recipient?

Anxiety or anger can lead to increased levels of burden

Life satisfaction, quality of life

How does the caregiver rate his or her life satisfaction and quality of life?

Caregivers who report lower satisfaction and poorer quality of life are at risk of increased morbidity and bloodshed

Caregiving consequences

Perceived challenges and benefits of caregiving

Does the caregiver have a social support network or is he or she isolated?

Identifies additional support for caregiver

Does caregiver have work-related, emotional, or health problems from caregiving?

Assesses work-related, emotional, and physical burdens

Does the caregiver feel satisfaction in helping a family member?

Identifies perceived benefits from caregiving function that may lessen likelihood of burden

Does the caregiver feel he or she has developed new skills and knowledge as a event of caregiving?

Has in that location been an improvement in family relationships as a upshot of the caregiving situation?

Caregiver'due south skills, abilities, and noesis

Caregiving confidence and competence

How knowledgeable does the caregiver feel near the care recipient's condition?

Caregivers who do non feel fairly trained for caregiving roles report higher levels of brunt Identifies unmet educational and informational needs

Knowledge of medical intendance tasks

What are the skills and abilities needed to provide intendance for the care recipient? How would the caregiver charge per unit his or her confidence and competence in these areas?

Does the caregiver take appropriate knowledge of medical intendance tasks (e.1000., wound care, transfer techniques)?

Potential resources for caregiver

Social support

Can the caregiver rely on his or her social support network for help?

Identifies caregiver support and coping strategies

Coping strategies

What are the caregiver's coping strategies? Are these constructive?

Financial resources

Has caregiver accessed all financial benefits and entitlements for which the caregiver and care recipient are eligible?

Identifies need for additional resources

Community resources and services

What other community resources and services are the caregiver utilizing or enlightened of?


Tabular array two.

Assessing Caregiver Burden: The Adapted Zarit Interview

Questions For each question, please circle the response that best describes your caregiving situation:
Never Rarely Sometimes Quite ofttimes Virtually ever Score

Exercise you lot feel that you don't have plenty time for yourself considering of the time you spend with the person for whom yous are providing care?

0

1

2

3

iv

Do you feel stressed betwixt caring for this person and trying to meet other responsibilities (work, family)?

0

1

2

3

4

Practice yous feel aroused when y'all are effectually this person?

0

1

2

three

4

Exercise yous experience that this person currently affects your relationships with family unit members or friends in a negative way?

0

ane

ii

3

four

Practise you experience strained when yous are around this person?

0

1

two

3

four

Do you experience that your health has suffered because of your interest with this person?

0

1

2

three

four

Do you feel that you don't have as much privacy as you would like because of this person?

0

1

2

3

four

Do yous feel that your social life has suffered because y'all are caring for this person?

0

ane

2

3

4

Practise y'all feel that yous accept lost control of your life since this person'southward disease began?

0

1

2

3

iv

Do you feel uncertain nearly what to do about this person?

0

1

2

3

iv

Do y'all experience you should be doing more for this person?

0

1

two

3

4

Do you experience you could do a better job in caring for this person?

0

1

ii

iii

4

Add together the scores given for each reply.

Total score:____

Total score ranges from 0 to 48; college scores correlate with higher levels of burden.


Role-based assessment of the patient-caregiver dyad can provide unique ethical and advice challenges. While attempting to preserve patient autonomy and privacy, the physician also needs to validate the caregiver's role equally a member of the care team and help to resolve potential conflicts between the needs and rights of the care recipient and those of the caregiver.2 It is important to maintain advice and coordination among the care recipient, caregiver, and care agencies.

Supporting Caregivers

  • Abstract
  • Care Recipients and Caregivers
  • Caregiver Burden
  • Caregiver Cess
  • Supporting Caregivers
  • Special Caregiving Scenarios
  • Public Policy
  • References

Encouraging caregivers to take breaks, have intendance of their own wellness, maintain a healthy diet, exercise, seek preventive health intendance, join a back up group, and locate respite intendance when needed are primal ways to provide direct caregiver support.2 Physicians can also identify coping strategies, such every bit praying (73 percent), talking with friends and family (61 percent), and obtaining boosted data from books or Web sites (44 percent).7 Caregivers identified as having unmet educational and informational needs should exist directed to appropriate resources, such as national caregiving organizations, Web sites for additional training, and respite care services.1,7 Practical online resource locators (due east.one thousand., Eldercare Locator, Family Care Navigator) and online toolkits, such as a planning guide from the AARP,21 can be easily accessed and provided during an function visit.2123 Table three provides a listing of caregiver resources available online.

Table iii.

Online Resources for Caregivers

Caregiving

AARP: http://www.aarp.org/families/caregiving

American Ruddy Cross Family Caregiver Program: http://world wide web.redcross.org/

American Society on Aging: http://www.asaging.org/caregiving_resources.cfm

Caring Today magazine: http://www.caringtoday.com

Empower Online, Mather LifeWays Institute on Aging: http://matherlifeways.com/re_ptc.asp

Family unit Caregiver Alliance: http://www.caregiver.org

National Brotherhood for Caregiving: http://www.caregiving.org

National Family Caregivers Association: http://www.nfcacares.org

National Family unit Caregiver Back up Program, Administration on Aging: http://world wide web.aoa.gov/aoaroot/aoa_programs/hcltc/caregiver

National Establish on Aging: http://www.niapublications.org

Side by side Step in Intendance, United Hospital Fund: http://www.nextstepincare.org

Rosalynn Carter Institute for Caregiving: http://rci.gsw.edu

Disease-specific caregiving

Cancer

American Cancer Society: http://world wide web.cancer.org/Handling/Caregivers

CancerCare: http://world wide web.cancercare.org/get_help/special_progs/caregivers.php

National Cancer Institute: http://www.cancer.gov/cancertopics/coping/familyfriends

Dementia

Alzheimer's Association: http://world wide web.alz.org/living_with_alzheimers_caring_for_alzheimers.asp

Alzheimer'southward Disease Didactics and Referral Eye, National Institute on Aging: http://www.nia.nih.gov/Alzheimers/Caregiving/

Heart failure

American Heart Clan: http://www.centre.org/HEARTORG/Caregiver/Caregiver_UCM_001103_SubHomePage.jsp

Eye Failure Society of America: http://world wide web.hfsa.org/

Stroke

American Heart Association and American Stroke Association: http://www.strokeassociation.org/

National Establish of Neurological Disorders and Stroke: http://www.ninds.nih.gov

National Stroke Association: http://www.stroke.org/site/PageServer?pagename=care

Resources locators

Eldercare Locator, Administration on Aging: http://www.eldercare.gov

Family Intendance Navigator, Family Caregiver Brotherhood: http://www.caregiver.org/caregiver/jsp/fcn_content_node.jsp?nodeid=2083

Paying for Senior Intendance: http://www.payingforseniorcare.com

Respite intendance

Curvation National Respite Network: http://world wide web.archrespite.org

Family Caregiver Alliance Camps for Caring: http://www.caregiver.org/caregiver/jsp/content_node.jsp?nodeid=2427

Training and educational activity

AssistGuide Data Services, AGIS Caregiver Kit: http://www.agis.com/caregiverkit

Family Caregiver Brotherhood workshops, classes, and retreats: http://www.caregiver.org/caregiver/jsp/content_node.jsp?nodeid=2432

National Registry of Evidence-based Programs and Practices, New York University Caregiver Intervention: http://www.nrepp.samhsa.gov/ViewIntervention.aspx?id=74

Powerful Tools for Caregivers, Legacy Health: http://www.legacyhealth.org/body.cfm?id=690

Prepare to Care: A Planning Guide for Families, AARP Foundation: http://avails.aarp.org/world wide web.aarp.org_/articles/foundation/aa66r2_care.pdf

CAREGIVER INTERVENTIONS AND INNOVATIONS

Evidence suggests that when patients and caregivers are treated equally a dyad, outcomes for both are improved.24 Recent enquiry has identified a number of successful models of caregiver interventions. These interventions come in a multifariousness of formats, from universal, customs-based interventions to illness-specific, individualized interventions.five In a meta-analysis of 78 caregiver interventions targeting caregivers of older adults, psychoeducational and psychotherapeutic interventions had the virtually consistent effects on all outcome measures.25 Studies about caregivers of persons with dementia and other chronic illnesses have demonstrated significant effect sizes from caregiver interventions.2527 A 2010 meta-analysis that included 29 randomized controlled trials (RCTs) of interventions designed to support caregivers of patients with cancer constitute that psychoeducational, skills-training, and therapeutic counseling interventions reduced caregiver burden and increased caregiver self-efficacy, quality of life, and coping skills with small to moderate effect sizes.28 However, these interventions did not reduce caregiver depression.

Caregiver intendance is improved by offering innovations in cocky-management, conclusion support, information systems, and delivery redesign. One important advance in caregiving is the increased use of high-tech abode wellness intendance, Web-based technology, and assistive technology. Nearly half of caregivers employ some course of engineering to improve the quality of the intendance they provide.5 Examples of new tools include Internet-based solutions such as the Comprehensive Wellness Enhancement Support System and Link2Care, which have resulted in increased delivery of information to family caregivers, decreased depression, and increased sense of social support.29,30 Other tools include home telemedicine, telehealth, and affliction-state monitoring systems, which can transmit data on wellness status to base stations. Devices such every bit automatic medication dispensers, vibrating alarm watches, scooters, and lifting systems tin as well relieve caregiver brunt and improve the prophylactic of the care recipient at home.

Special Caregiving Scenarios

  • Abstruse
  • Care Recipients and Caregivers
  • Caregiver Brunt
  • Caregiver Assessment
  • Supporting Caregivers
  • Special Caregiving Scenarios
  • Public Policy
  • References

CANCER

Considering of changes in the health intendance system and insurance reimbursement, much of cancer care is now provided at abode.31 More than 50 percent of caregivers of persons with cancer provide care for patients with metastatic disease or severe comorbidities who are undergoing treatment, all the same these caregivers receive little formal training, information, or support.31 Family caregivers of patients with cancer report loftier levels of low, often higher than their care recipients.32  Information for these caregivers is bachelor online through national organizations (Table 3).

In a 2006 RCT of 354 family unit caregivers of persons with advanced cancer, a coping-skills intervention led to significantly improved quality of life and decreased caregiver brunt.33 A 2010 meta-analysis of 29 RCTs assessed psychoeducational, skills-preparation, and therapeutic counseling interventions in caregivers of persons with cancer, and results showed small to medium effects in decreasing cancer burden and increasing coping skills, self-efficacy, and quality of life.28 Given the high level of responsibility and the by and large low level of training for these unpaid caregivers, boosted research is needed to implement these bear witness-based interventions.32,34

DEMENTIA

More than 25 pct of caregivers provide treat someone with cognitive impairment.35 Caregiving for a person with dementia is associated with high levels of strain caused by associated behavioral disturbances, intense physical needs, and need for constant vigilance. High strain has been identified as a predictor of long-term care placement.35,36 Therefore, physicians need to place these caregivers early and provide appropriate back up. Fact sheets from the Family unit Caregiver Brotherhood are complimentary, like shooting fish in a barrel to download, and provide practical guidance to caregivers on topics such as understanding dementia behaviors, finding community care options, controlling frustration, and maintaining self-care (http://www.caregiver.org/caregiver/jsp/publications.jsp?nodeid=345).

Bear witness supporting interventions that target caregivers of persons with dementia has become more than robust in the past decade.37,38 Examples of effective interventions in RCTs directed at these caregivers include the Tailored Activity Programme, Resources for Enhancing Alzheimer's Caregiver Wellness, and the Adult 24-hour interval Services Plus programme.3946 A 2006 meta-assay of 127 RCTs with interventions targeting caregivers of persons with dementia demonstrated a pocket-size to medium event on caregiver burden, low, well-being, and coping skills.38 Psychoeducational interventions that involve agile participation of caregivers demonstrate the broadest effects on caregiving domains, and multicomponent interventions reduce the risk of institutionalization.37,38

HEART FAILURE

Caregivers of patients with centre failure report similar bug as those caring for patients with other chronic illnesses.47 Withal, patients with eye failure oftentimes have frequent exacerbations requiring hospitalization, which can increment caregiver strain. These caregivers report that the most burdensome aspects of care are enforcing dietary restriction and adherence, likewise every bit monitoring for signs and symptoms of heart failure.47,48 A growing number of multidisciplinary team interventions that target patient and caregiver instruction and include technologic innovations such every bit home telemonitoring are effective in decreasing hospital readmissions and caregiver burden; however, many of these programs are non however widely available.

STROKE

Advances in stroke care have decreased the rate of severe disabilities among stroke survivors, allowing more stroke survivors to live at home. Notwithstanding, these patients ofttimes crave pregnant aid with activities of daily living and instrumental activities of daily living. The prevalence of caregiver brunt ranges from 25 to 54 pct.49 Physical intendance activities, peculiarly assistance with toileting, mood disturbances, and memory deficits, cause pregnant emotional stress in caregivers of stroke survivors.fifty Withal, caregiver interventions providing instruction, emotional support, and admission to services have been nonsignificant or have shown merely pocket-sized furnishings on caregiver burden.51,52 A 2010 systematic review of 117 studies of longitudinal family unit stroke care establish that caregiver stress, depression, and health measures did not modify significantly across the selected cross-sectional studies.53 Given the higher stress levels associated with care-recipient depression and anxiety, interventions to target these comorbidities equally function of post-stroke caregiving are even so needed.

TRANSITIONS IN Intendance

Many caregivers experience a subtract in low symptoms after the death of a care recipient, perhaps marking the end of the intendance recipient'southward suffering. The placement of a intendance recipient into a long-term care facility is not associated with positive effects and may be accompanied by an increase in caregiver anxiety.54 To ease these care transitions, master care physicians can provide anticipatory guidance, help with advance intendance planning, and appropriate resources for respite, long-term, and end-of-life care.41,46,55,56

Public Policy

  • Abstruse
  • Care Recipients and Caregivers
  • Caregiver Burden
  • Caregiver Cess
  • Supporting Caregivers
  • Special Caregiving Scenarios
  • Public Policy
  • References

Providing optimal care for the care recipient and caregiver mandates an understanding of financial reimbursement strategies for caregivers. In 2000, the Older Americans Act passed the National Family Caregiver Back up Program, the first federally funded program to formally recognize caregivers. However, in 2009, the program received but $154 million in federal funding, approximately i-twentieth of ane percent of the value of caregiver contributions.ii Boosted funding for caregiver services is available from the Family Medical Leave Act, the Section of Veterans Affairs programs, the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services' home and customs-based care programs, Program of All-inclusive Treat the Elderly, respite care, and selected adult day care services. 15 states now have Cash and Counseling programs in which Medicaid beneficiaries with a inability can receive cash vouchers to pay family members who provide caregiving.5 Despite these new programs, caregiver funding remains insufficient and varies among states.

Accommodations in the workplace, including flexible scheduling and telecommuting, are important ways that employers can respond to caregivers' needs. New strategies of financial reimbursement for providing caregiver support in the function also demand to be implemented and may be a part of health care reform via the patient-centered medical home. Obtaining additional funding for caregiving resources is an urgent national public health issue.

To see the full article, log in or purchase admission.

The Authors

testify all writer info

LAUREN K. COLLINS, MD, is an assistant professor in the Department of Family and Community Medicine at Jefferson Medical College, Thomas Jefferson University, Philadelphia, Pa....

KRISTINE SWARTZ, Md, is a clinical instructor in the Department of Family and Community Medicine at Jefferson Medical College, Thomas Jefferson University.

Accost correspondence to Lauren One thousand. Collins, Medico, Thomas Jefferson University, 1015 Walnut St., Ste. 401, Philadelphia, PA 19107 (east-mail: lauren.collins@jefferson.edu). Reprints are not available from the authors.

Author disclosure: Nothing to disclose.

REFERENCES

testify all references

1. Family Caregiver Alliance. Caregiver assessment: principles, guidelines and strategies for modify. Report from a national consensus evolution conference. Vol. I. San Francisco, Calif.: Family Caregiver Brotherhood; 2006. http://world wide web.caregiver.org/caregiver/jsp/content/pdfs/v1_consensus.pdf. Accessed March 24, 2011. ...

ii. Aldrich Due north. CDC seeks to protect health of family unit caregivers. http://www.chronicdisease.org/nacdd-initiatives/healthy-aging/meeting-records/HA_CIB_HealthofFamilyCaregivers.pdf/view. Accessed March 24, 2011.

iii. Institute of Medicine. Retooling for an crumbling America: edifice the health care workforce. Washington, DC: The National Academies Press; 2008. http://books.nap.edu/openbook.php?record_id=12089. Accessed March 24, 2011.

4. U.S. Department of Health and Homo Services. Healthy people 2010. 2nd ed. McLean, Va.: U.S. Department of Health and Human being Services; 2000.

5. Family unit Caregiver Alliance. Family caregiving: state of the art, future trends. Study from a national conference. San Francisco, Calif.: Family unit Caregiver Alliance; 2007.

half-dozen. National Alliance for Caregiving; AARP. Caregiving in the U.S.: executive summary. Bethesda, Md.: National Alliance for Caregiving; 2009. http://www.caregiving.org/information/CaregivingUSAllAgesExecSum.pdf. Accessed March 24, 2011.

seven. Family unit Caregiver Alliance. Caregivers count too! A toolkit to help practitioners assess the needs of family caregivers. San Francisco, Calif.: Family unit Caregiver Alliance; 2006. http://www.caregiver.org/caregiver/jsp/content_node.jsp?nodeid=1695. Accessed March 24, 2011.

8. Kelly Thousand, Reinhard SC, Brooks-Danso A. Professional person partners supporting family caregivers. Am J Nurs. 2008;108(9 supp):6–12.

ix. Schulz R, Sherwood PR. Physical and mental health furnishings of family caregiving. Am J Nurs. 2008;108(9 suppl):23–27.

10. McCurry SM, Gibbons LE, Logsdon RG, Vitiello MV, Teri L. Insomnia In caregivers of persons with dementia: who is at run a risk and what can be done nearly it? Slumber Med Clin. 2009;four(four):519–526.

11. Haley We, Roth DL, Howard Thou, Safford MM. Caregiving strain and estimated hazard for stroke and coronary heart affliction among spouse caregivers: differential furnishings past race and sex. Stroke. 2010;41(2):331–336.

12. Schulz R, Beach SR. Caregiving as a risk factor for bloodshed: the Caregiver Health Effects Study. JAMA. 1999;282(23):2215–2219.

xiii. Boyd CM, Reider L, Frey K, et al. The effects of guided care on the perceived quality of health intendance for multi-morbid older persons: 18-month outcomes from a cluster-randomized controlled trial. J Gen Intern Med. 2010;25(3):235–242.

14. American Medical Association. Caregiver self assessment. http://www.ama-assn.org/ama1/pub/upload/mm/433/caregiver_english.pdf. Accessed March 24, 2011.

xv. Administration on Aging. Supporting family unit caregivers. Domicile and community-based services for people with dementia and their caregivers. http://www.aoa.gov/AoAroot/AoA_Programs/HCLTC/Alz_Grants/docs/Toolkit_8_Supporting_Family_Caregivers.pdf. Accessed March 24, 2011.

16. Feinberg LF; Family Caregiver Alliance. The state of the art: caregiver assessment in practice settings. San Francisco, Calif.: Family unit Caregiver Brotherhood; 2002. http://world wide web.caregiver.org/caregiver/jsp/content/pdfs/op_2002_state_of_the_art.pdf. Accessed March 24, 2011.

17. Rosalynn Carter Found for Caregiving. Caring for You lot, Caring for Me: Education and Support for Family and Professional Caregivers. second ed. Americus, Ga: University of Georgia Press; 2007.

18. Total Circle of Care. Caregiver burden inventory. http://www.fullcirclecare.org/caregiverissues/wellness/burden.html. Accessed March 24, 2011.

19. Bédard M, Molloy DW, Squire L, Dubois S, Lever JA, O'Donnell M. The Zarit Burden Interview: a new short version and screening version. Gerontologist. 2001;41(v):652–657.

twenty. Kentish-Barnes N, Lemiale 5, Chaize M, Pochard F, Azoulay E. Assessing burden in families of critical care patients. Crit Care Med. 2009;37(10 suppl):S448–S456.

21. AARP Foundation. Prepare to care: a planning guide for families. April 2010. http://www.aarp.org/foundation/preparetocare. Accessed March 24, 2011.

22. Family Caregiver Alliance. Applied tools and resources for professionals. San Francisco, Calif.: Family unit Caregiver Alliance; 2008. http://caregiver.org/caregiver/jsp/content/pdfs/FCA-Harford-Practical%20Tools-Professionals.pdf. Accessed March 24, 2011.

23. Coleman BJ; Family Caregiver Alliance. Navigating the care system: a guide for providers to assist family caregivers. San Francisco, Calif.: Family Caregiver Alliance; 2004. http://www.caregiver.org/caregiver/jsp/content_node.jsp?nodeid=1073. Accessed March 24, 2011.

24. Schulz R, O'Brien A, Czaja Southward, et al. Dementia caregiver intervention research: in search of clinical significance. Gerontologist. 2002;42(five):589–602.

25. Sörensen S, Pinquart M, Duberstein P. How constructive are interventions with caregivers? An updated meta-analysis. Gerontologist. 2002;42(3):356–372.

26. Gitlin LN, Belle SH, Burgio LD, et al.; Achieve Investigators. Upshot of multicomponent interventions on caregiver burden and depression: the REACH multisite initiative at half dozen-month follow-upwards. Psychol Aging. 2003;xviii(iii):361–374.

27. Martire LM, Lustig AP, Schulz R, Miller GE, Helgeson VS. Is information technology beneficial to involve a family member? A meta-assay of psychosocial interventions for chronic affliction. Health Psychol. 2004;23(6):599–611.

28. Northouse LL, Katapodi MC, Vocal 50, Zhang L, Mood DW. Interventions with family caregivers of cancer patients: meta-analysis of randomized trials. CA Cancer J Clin. 2010;60(5):317–339.

29. Gustafson DH, Robinson TN, Ansley D, Adler Fifty, Brennan PF. Consumers and evaluation of interactive wellness communication applications. The Scientific discipline Console on Interactive Communication and Health. Am J Prev Med. 1999;16(1):23–29.

30. Family Caregiver Alliance; California's Caregiver Resource Centers. Link2Care. http://www.link2care.net/link2care/jsp/default.jsp. Accessed March 24, 2011.

31. van Ryn M, Sanders S, Kahn Chiliad, et al. Objective burden, resources, and other stressors amongst informal cancer caregivers: a hidden quality upshot? Psychooncology. 2011;20(one):44–52.

32. Northfield S, Nebauer One thousand. The caregiving journey for family unit members of relatives with cancer: how practise they cope? Clin J Oncol Nurs. 2010;14(5):567–577.

33. McMillan SC, Small BJ, Weitzner M, et al. Impact of coping skills intervention with family unit caregivers of hospice patients with cancer: a randomized clinical trial. Cancer. 2006;106(one):214–222.

34. Caress AL, Chalmers Thousand, Luker K. A narrative review of interventions to support family unit carers who provide physical intendance to family members with cancer. Int J Nurs Stud. 2009;46(xi):1516–1527.

35. Schulz R, O'Brien AT, Bookwala J, Fleissner Thou. Psychiatric and physical morbidity effects of dementia caregiving: prevalence, correlates, and causes. Gerontologist. 1995;35(6):771–791.

36. Yaffe 1000, Play a trick on P, Newcomer R, et al. Patient and caregiver characteristics and nursing habitation placement in patients with dementia. JAMA. 2002;287(16):2090–2097.

37. Brodaty H, Green A, Koschera A. Meta-analysis of psychosocial interventions for caregivers of people with dementia. J Am Geriatr Soc. 2003;51(five):657–664.

38. Pinquart M, Sörensen Southward. Helping caregivers of persons with dementia: which interventions work and how large are their effects? Int Psychogeriatr. 2006;eighteen(iv):577–595.

39. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. The Kimberly-Clark Corporation. Assuring healthy caregivers, a public health approach to translating research into practice: the RE-AIM framework. Neenah, Wisc.: Kimberly-Clark Corporation; 2008. http://www.cdc.gov/aging/caregiving/assuring.htm. Accessed March 24, 2011.

40. Akkerman RL, Ostwald SK. Reducing anxiety in Alzheimer's affliction family unit caregivers: the effectiveness of a ix-week cognitive-behavioral intervention. Am J Alzheimers Dis Other Demen. 2004;19(2):117–123.

41. Schulz R, Burgio L, Burns R, et al. Resource for Enhancing Alzheimer'south Caregiver Health (REACH): overview, site-specific outcomes, and future directions. Gerontologist. 2003;43(four):514–520.

42. Whitlatch CJ, Feinberg LF, Tucke SS. Measuring the values and preferences for everyday care of persons with cognitive impairment and their family caregivers. Gerontologist. 2005;45(3):370–380.

43. Gaugler JE, Roth DL, Haley WE, Mittelman MS. Tin counseling and back up reduce brunt and depressive symptoms in caregivers of people with Alzheimer'south disease during the transition to institutionalization? Results from the New York University caregiver intervention study. J Am Geriatr Soc. 2008;56(three):421–428.

44. Gitlin LN, Hauck WW, Dennis MP, Winter L. Maintenance of effects of the home environmental skill-building program for family caregivers and individuals with Alzheimer'due south disease and related disorders. J Gerontol A Biol Sci Med Sci. 2005;60(iii):368–374.

45. Czaja SJ, Gitlin LN, Schulz R, et al. Evolution of the risk appraisal measure: a brief screen to identify chance areas and guide interventions for dementia caregivers. J Am Geriatr Soc. 2009;57(6):1064–1072.

46. Elliott AF, Burgio LD, Decoster J. Enhancing caregiver health: findings from the Resources for Enhancing Alzheimer's Caregiver Health II intervention. J Am Geriatr Soc. 2010;58(ane):30–37.

47. Pressler SJ, Gradus-Pizlo I, Chubinski SD, et al. Family caregiver outcomes in center failure. Am J Crit Care. 2009;18(2):149–159.

48. Annema C, Luttik ML, Jaarsma T. Reasons for readmission in heart failure: perspectives of patients, caregivers, cardiologists, and heart failure nurses. Heart Lung. 2009;38(5):427–434.

49. Rigby H, Gubitz Yard, Phillips S. A systematic review of caregiver burden following stroke. Int J Stroke. 2009;iv(4):285–292.

50. Haley Nosotros, Allen JY, Grant JS, Clay OJ, Perkins 1000, Roth DL. Bug and benefits reported by stroke family caregivers: results from a prospective epidemiological written report. Stroke. 2009;twoscore(6):2129–2133.

51. Eldred C, Sykes C. Psychosocial interventions for carers of survivors of stroke: a systematic review of interventions based on psychological principles and theoretical frameworks. Br J Wellness Psychol. 2008;13(pt 3):563–581.

52. Vincent C, Desrosiers J, Landreville P, Demers L; BRAD group. Burden of caregivers of people with stroke: evolution and predictors Cerebrovasc Dis. 2009;27(5):456–464.

53. Gaugler JE. The longitudinal ramifications of stroke caregiving: a systematic review. Rehabil Psychol. 2010;55(2):108–125.

54. Schulz R, Mendelsohn AB, Haley We, et al.; Resources for Enhancing Alzheimer'due south Caregiver Health Investigators. Cease-of-life care and the effects of bereavement on family caregivers of persons with dementia. N Engl J Med. 2003;349(20):1936–1942.

55. Karlawish JH, Quill T, Meier DE. A consensus-based approach to providing palliative intendance to patients who lack decision-making capacity. ACP-ASIM End-of-Life Intendance Consensus Panel. American College of Physicians-American Society of Internal Medicine. Ann Intern Med. 1999;130(x):835–840.

56. Burton LC, Zdaniuk B, Schulz R, Jackson S, Hirsch C. Transitions in spousal caregiving. Gerontologist. 2003;43(2):230–241.

Copyright © 2011 by the American University of Family unit Physicians.
This content is endemic by the AAFP. A person viewing it online may make one printout of the material and may utilise that printout only for his or her personal, non-commercial reference. This cloth may not otherwise be downloaded, copied, printed, stored, transmitted or reproduced in any medium, whether at present known or later invented, except as authorized in writing by the AAFP. Contact afpserv@aafp.org for copyright questions and/or permission requests.

MOST RECENT Effect

Feb 2022

Access the latest issue of American Family unit Physician

Read the Issue


Email Alerts

Don't miss a single issue. Sign up for the costless AFP email tabular array of contents.

Sign Upwards Now