Chapter 60 - Caregiving

Summary

As the aging population continues to grow, the issue of caregiving has increasingly moved into the public spotlight. Caregiving is defined as “assistance provided to individuals who are in need of support because of a disability, mental illness, chronic condition, terminal illness or who are frail.” More recently, the COVID-19 pandemic has added an additional spotlight on the issue of how we are caring for older patients in the midst of societal shutdowns, increasing social isolation, and economic impacts that affect patient and caregiver alike. This chapter focuses on the informal caregivers who care for chronically ill older adults. It also broadens the toolset of the primary care provider to include a more systematic approach when assessing the degree of caregiver burden. Recognizing caregiver needs and burden can then inform the primary care provider to counsel caregivers about common stresses, suggest practical interventions, and provide additional resources.