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MENTAL HEALTH
CHALLENGES

Caring for the Caregiver

By Carol L. White, RN, PhD

Caring for a family member, partner, or friend with limitations in ones, their own needs for support continue to be under-recog-
physical, mental, or cognitive functioning is nearly universal today. nized. A seminal publication in 1979 referred to elderly women
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There are over 44 million Americans, family caregivers, character- caring for their disabled husbands as the ‘hidden patients’. There
ized by their personal relationship with their recipient of care rather have since been numerous studies highlighting the consequences
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than by financial remuneration. Family caregivers provide care that of the role on the caregiver’s physical, emotional, social, and fi-
may be episodic, daily, or of short or long duration. They provide nancial health. 3-5 Yet, almost 40 years later, the results of a recent
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over 80% of the necessary care for their family members, assisting study conducted by AARP suggest that family caregivers are still
with activities of daily living and household tasks, providing emo- ‘hidden patients’. In response to a survey conducted among family
tional support, and helping to navigate a complicated and increas- caregivers who had recently visited a health care provider
ingly fragmented health care system. Over 50% of family caregivers (n=1,248), only 16% were asked about their own health and what
are delivering skilled nursing and medical care at home that was once support they needed as family caregivers and almost all caregivers
provided by healthcare professionals. 1 (84%) reported needing more information to support them in the
Despite the critical role that families take on for their loved caregiving role. We can do better.

22 San Antonio Medicine • May 2019