Caregivers provide help to another person in need. The person receiving care may be an adult – often a parent or a spouse – or a child with special medical needs. Some caregivers are family members. Others are paid. They do many things:
- Shop for food and cook
- Clean the house
- Pay bills
- Give medicine
- Help the person go to the toilet, bathe and dress
- Help the person eat
- Provide 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.
Dept. of Health and Human Services Office on Women’s Health
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