Caring for the Needs of A Dependent Loved One - Child or Adult
A Caregiver is "a person who is responsible for attending to the needs of a child or dependent adult." Caregiving is the care provided for that person.
Caregiving is often one of the most important, demanding and stressful roles that a person may undertake in his or her lifetime.
The way the system currently stands, all of the caregiving provided by caregivers comprise the backbone of the American long-term care system. The estimated value of the services provided by these informal caregivers (family or friends of seriously ill loved ones) is at $257 billion annually.
Most of these caregivers are unpaid for their services.
Usually people think of caregivers as those who care for elderly people. Other caregivers include grandparents who are raising their grandchildren, parents caring for special needs children and those caring for special needs pets.
Image: Modified Microsoft Images.
Definition of Caregiver
What is a Caregiver?
- A person who is responsible for attending to the needs of a child or dependent adult.
- A health care professional, family member or friend who attends to the needs of a patient.
- The primary person in charge of caring for an individual with a disease or condition, usually a family member or a designated health care professional.
Caregivers and Caregiving Resources
Topics Covered in the Caregivers and Caregiving Lens
This Caregiver and Caregiving lens features information on these various topics.
- Alzheimers
- Spinal Cord Injuries
- Parkinson's Disease
- Child with a Chronic Illness or Disability
- Baby in the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit - NICU Parents
- Caring for the Caregivers
- CarePages - Keeping Caregivers Connected
Caregivers and Caregiver Stress
A Quote from a Caregiver
- Being a caregiver is the most thankless role in the world.
Everybody gives the patient some slack, as they should,
but the caregiver has the stress of life
and then you put a catastrophic illness on top of it
...the stress goes through the roof.
Marcia Wallace
Who are the Caregivers?
Statistics on Caregivers and Caregiving
Source: National Women's Health Information Center. Caregiver Stress. WomensHealth.gov January 2006.
- About 75% of caregivers are women.
- Two-thirds of caregivers in the United States have jobs in addition to caring for another person.
- Most caregivers are middle-aged: 35-64 years old.
Leeza Gibbons on Alzheimer's Disease
Her Thoughts on Watching Her Mother Live with Alzheimer's Disease
- I think that, because her life story was rewritten by this disease,
she is now just existing with the music still in her.
And I think that's what hurts the most:
She just never got to finish her story.
Leeza Gibbons
Squidoo Lenses focusing on Caregivers of Alzheimer's Patients
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Alzheimer's Disease Awareness T-Shirts and Gifts for Caregivers and Family
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Learn about Alzheimer's Disease awareness and shop for Alzheimer's support t-shirts. It's hard to lose a loved one to Alzheimer's disease. I started this lens to offer Alzheimer's Disease online resources for family members and caregivers. Find aware...
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Caregiving for Those With Alzheimer's Disease
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Get information, support and encouragement as you care for family members suffering from dementia. Currently, I'm helping to care for DD's paternal grandmother. My favorite quote: If you've met one person with Alzheimer's Disease, you've met one pe...
Resources for Caregivers of Alzheimer's Patients
From the Memory Foundation
The Family Guide to Alzheimer¿s Disease: Volume 1- Understanding Alzheimer¿s
Amazon Price: $24.95 (as of 12/25/2009) 
The Family Guide to Alzheimer¿s Disease: Volume 2- Behavior Issues
Amazon Price: $24.95 (as of 12/25/2009)
The Family Guide to Alzheimer¿s Disease: Volume 3- Daily Living
Amazon Price: $24.95 (as of 12/25/2009)
The Family Guide to Alzheimer¿s Disease: Volume 4- Family Caregiving
Amazon Price: $24.95 (as of 12/25/2009)
![The Family Guide to Alzheimer¿s Disease: 5 Volume Set [VHS]](http://ecx.images-amazon.com/images/I/51EKJ5C4MGL._SL75_.jpg)
The Family Guide to Alzheimer¿s Disease: 5 Volume Set [VHS]
Amazon Price: $99.95 (as of 12/25/2009)
Resources for Caregivers of Alzheimer's Patients
From the Leeza Gibbons Memory Foundation
- The Leeza Gibbons Memory Foundation
- The original home site for the Leeza Gibbons Memory Foundation.
- Leeza's Place
- Leeza's Place is a community-based oasis for caregivers and the newly diagnosed created to be a safe setting for all families who are dealing with loved ones diagnosed with a memory disorder.
YouTube Video on Caregivers from the Christopher and Dana Reeve Foundation
Featuring Dana Reeve
Quote from Caregiving Video
Text from Caregivers Sponsored by the Christopher and Dana Reeve Foundation
Spinal cord injury, debilitation or sudden illness may come without warning. This is a job that cannot be skirted and cannot always be delegated. It can be difficult, physically and emotionally. It can be time-consuming.
While caring for loved ones can be enormously satisfying, there are days, it seems, that offer little reward.
Caregivers, the men and women who care for family members and loved ones, deserve to be recognized and supported for the vital part they play in the lives of people with paralysis.
Caregivers may work in isolation from others in similar circumstances but they share much in common. It is important that caregivers connect with each other, to gain strength and to know that they are not alone.
It is essential that caregivers know about tools -- the homecare products and services -- that might make their jobs easier. It's also important that caregivers are aware of community and public resources that offer assistance.
Caregivers also need to know that support and respite systems exist to address the well-being and health of caregivers themselves.
Squidoo Lenses Looking at Caring for People with Spinal Cord Injuries
Information about those who have Spinal Cord Injuries.-
Christopher Reeve - Superman, SuperHero & Super Human Being
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Anyone around in 1978 remembers Christopher Reeve emerging on the film screen as the ultimate Superman and as a SuperHero. Yet for me, I think his true SuperHero status happened years later. I would like to introduce my SuperHeroes...Christopher Reev...
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Spinal Cord Injury
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Spinal Cord Injury Links & Information. The term "spinal cord injury" refers to any injury of the neural (pertaining to nerves) elements within the spinal canal. SCI can occur from either trauma or disease to the vertebral column or...
A Squidoo Lens for Caregivers of Parkinson's Disease
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PD: A Primary Caregiver's Perspective of a Dreadful, Debilitating, Devastating Disease
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As the primary caregiver of someone who suffered with Parkinson's Disease (PD), I wanted to develop this Lens to hopefully help someone else going through the same experience. My husband Charlie (pictured at left before PD) died November 26, 200...
A Squidoo Lens on Caring for a Child with a Chronic Illness or Disability
An amazing, inspirational pair that makes up Team Hoyt. Rick the son, has been disabled at birth and suffers from cerebral palsy. Dick the father and caregiver, has helped his son to live an amazing life and achieve far beyond anyone's expectations.-
Team Hoyt | Dick and Rick Hoyt | The Hoyt Fund | Helping The Disabled
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As parenting is important to us, we dedicate this lens to a father-son team who could very well be the best there is. Read on about Dick and Rick Hoyt's story.
Squidoo Lenses for Caregivers of Babies in the Neonatal Intensive Care
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How Will I Survive the NICU? Advice for NICU Parents and NICU Families
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This lens was created to help parents survive in the NICU after they have gotten past the initial shock period, covered in the first lens My Baby's in the NICU: Now What? The focus of this lens is on the later phases of the NICU experience--the next...
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My Baby's in the NICU: Now What?
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The first lens in a series of lenses from the NICU Parent Support Site created to provide information, support, encouragement and resources for parents and Families who suddenly find that they have a NICU Baby--a newborn hospitalized in the Neonatal...
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NICU Parent Support Lens
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This NICU Parent Support lens was created to organize our various lenses and provide an overview of the information, support, encouragement and resources for NICU Parents and Families, those whose newborns are hospitalized in the Neonatal Intensive C...
Video on YouTube on Caring for the Caregivers
Featuring Ms. Sandra Martin
Other Squidoo Lense on Caregiver Stress, Grief and Syndrome
Caregivers can be so concerned about caring for their loved ones, that they lose sight of their own health and well being. This lens looks at issues faced by Caregivers.-
Caregiver Stress - The Impact of Caregiving Too Much
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Caregiver Stress is the emotional strain of caregiving for a loved one, or attending to the needs of a child or dependent adult. Caregiving can have a major impact on the caregiver's own health. Caregivers become so concerned about caring for their...
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Caregiver Syndrome - Caregiver Stress Syndrome
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Caregiver Stress Syndrome is a way to describe the physiological and psychological changes experienced as the result of chronic stress due to ongoing caregiving activities. Caregiver Stress Syndrome are actual physiological and psychological symptoms...
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Caregiver Grief
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Grief is important part of the caregiver experience that is often overlooked. According to Grief expert Kenneth Doka, PhD "Grief is a reaction to a loss, but it can be -- and with caregivers grief often is -- a multifaceted reaction." Man...
What Can I Do to Relieve Caregiver Stress?
Ways of Helping the Caregiver to Cope
- AMA (Public Health) Caregiver self-assessment tool
- A Caregiver self assessment questionnaire available in English and in Spanish to help caregivers determine how they are coping with the additional challenges of being a caregiver.
- Caringinfo - Caring for Someone
- A variety of helpful information from Caringinfo. Including "Acknowledging You Need Assistance" and "Respite - Taking a Break."
- Caregiver Stress
- Information on and resources for coping with Caregiver Stress from the National Women's Health Information Center at WomensHealth.gov
- Lotsa Helping Hands
- Lotsa Helping Hands provides a volunteer coordination service for friends, family, colleagues, and neighbors to assist loved ones in need.
Books about Caregivers and Caregiving
Books Available on Amazon
The Fearless Caregiver: How to Get the Best Care for Your Loved One and Still Have a Life of Your Own (Capital Cares)
Amazon Price: (as of 12/25/2009)
Climb Back from Cancer: A Survivor and Caregiver's Inspirational Journey
Amazon Price: $29.95 (as of 12/25/2009)
Share The Care: How to Organize a Group to Care for Someone Who Is Seriously Ill, (Revised and Updated)
Amazon Price: $10.20 (as of 12/25/2009)
May I Walk You Home?: Courage and Comfort for Caregivers of the Very Ill
Amazon Price: (as of 12/25/2009)
Other Squidoo Lenses with Resources and Caring for the Caregivers
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When the Tables Turn - Caring for Your Aging Parents
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Parents are seen through most of your life as the caregivers, but there comes a time when that role reverses and you find yourself in the caregiving role. You’ll be met with both physical and emotional demands. Most people don’t like to t...
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Long Term Care For People You Love
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More than 9 million people over the age of 65 will need long-term-care this year. Here you'll learn all you need to know to plan for your family's LTC needs -- everything from needs assessment, options, implementation and everything in-between. This...
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Who Cares???
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According to the National Alliance for Caregiving website, "It is estimated that 80 percent of all care received by older Americans is provided by family members - spouses, children, grandchildren and other relatives - people like you." If t...
CarePages - Connecting Caregivers and their Families
CarePages can be a very helpful way for Caregivers to stay in touch and keep their families updated when a loved one is being cared for.-
CarePages - Connect Friends and Family During Times of Challenge
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CarePages unique service allows you to create a personal, private web page to help family and friends communicate when a loved one is facing illness whether at the beginning of life as a newborn, at the end of life, or somewhere in between. Creating...
Lotsa Helping Hands
Helping to Organize the Helping Hands
- Lotsa Helping Hands : Home
- This is the home page for Lotsa Helping Hands.
Resources for Caregivers
Keep Caring For Your Loved One and Yourself
- CareGiver - Information for CareGivers for Those in Need of Special Care
- CareGiver.com is a leading provider of support and information for those caring for the elderly, heart attack survivors, diabetes care, people with disabilities, Alzheimers sufferers, multiple sclerosis sufferers, those in need of long term care due to stroke, degenerative diseases, chronic illness
- MedlinePlus: Caregivers
- A page of links and resources for caregivers compiled by Medline Plus, by the National Institutes of Health and Department of Health & Human Services.
- FCA: Taking Care of YOU: Self-Care for Family Caregivers
- Taking Care of YOU: Self-Care for Family Caregivers - this informative page describes some of the many ways that Caregivers have to find the time to care for themselves.
- Family Caregiving 101
- FamilyCaregiving101.org: If you're caring for another person who is ill or disabled, this site was created for you. It's a great place to find assistance, answers, new ideas and helpful advice -- for you and your loved one.
- FCA: Family Caregiver Alliance Home
- Family Caregiver Alliance was the first community-based nonprofit organization in the country to address the needs of families and friends providing long-term care at home. FCA now offers programs at national, state and local levels to support and sustain caregivers.
- Caregiver Stress
- Information on and resources for coping with Caregiver Stress from the National Women's Health Information Center at WomensHealth.gov
- Just for Caregivers - Caregiver Syndrome
- An article from the Special Needs Pet site on pet owners experiencing Caregiver Syndrome tending to a special needs pet.
Reader Feedback on the Caregivers and Caregiving Lens
Your place for comments, messages, suggestions, ideas and feedback
Be sure to leave your comments, rank the site, pass on the word about the site (email) and leave a message (Reader Feedback).
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- homecarediva homecarediva May 6, 2009 @ 12:16 am
- Great lens with lots of information. I work out the same theme about caregivers and eldercare.
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- promolife promolife Oct 21, 2008 @ 9:52 am
- Thanks for this. I'll add it to my Caring for the Caregiver lens.
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- promolife promolife Oct 21, 2008 @ 9:52 am
- Thanks for this. I'll add it to my Caring for the Caregiver lens.
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- the-secret the-secret Mar 24, 2008 @ 3:31 pm
- My grandmother will soon be celebrating her 100th birthday. She lives in a very nice nursing home in the same town as my mom, who will soon be 82 and lives in her own home. My mom teases that not much has changed over the years, she still doesn't want to go live with her mom. :)
Caregiver Carrie
You know, I didn't know how to go about rating lenses until I went to one that said in the Guestbook info "Please go to the top and rate me using the stars!" So I did, and I did here too. All 5, I'm very happy to say! Thanks!
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- giddygabby giddygabby Mar 18, 2008 @ 11:25 pm
- Thank you for this comprehensive look at an all-too important topic. Most of us will find ourselves in one or the other role, if not both, during our lifetimes.
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by Comfortdoc
Kirsti A. Dyer MD, MS, FT is a respected physician, an expert in life challenges, loss, grief and bereavement, professional health educator, professor...
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