Caregivers

Caregivers are people who take care of other adults, often parents or spouses, or children with special medical needs. Some caregivers are family members; others are paid. They help with:

• Food shopping and cooking
• House cleaning
• Paying bills
• Giving medicine
• Going to the toilet, bathing and dressing
• Eating
• Providing company and emotional support

Caregiving is hard, and caregivers of chronically ill people often feel stress. They are "on call" 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. If you're caring for someone with mental problems like Alzheimer's disease it can be especially difficult. Support groups can help.