Glossary
Caregiver Burnout
Definition
Chronic physical, emotional, and mental exhaustion in someone providing long-term care to a family member, often accompanied by depression, withdrawal, and declining health of the caregiver.
Caregiver burnout has measurable effects: caregivers have higher rates of depression, anxiety, sleep disorders, and chronic disease than non-caregivers of the same age. It is the most-common reason families finally place a parent in a facility.
Evidence-backed interventions: respite care, paid in-home help even a few hours a week, support groups, and the caregiver's own therapy.
See also
Related terms
- Respite Care — Short-term, temporary care for an aging or disabled family member — at home, in a facility, or at adult day care — designed to give the primary caregiver a break.
- Sandwich Generation — Adults — typically in their 40s and 50s — who are simultaneously caring for aging parents and dependent children.
Sources
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