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