Caregiving: stressors, challenges, and treatment

Families have always taken care of older relatives, but with increases in life expectancy, caregiving has become a common and often stressful activity. Care is particularly challenging for persons with Alzheimer's Disease and related disorders and in other care situations involving behavioral and affective symptoms or severe disability. This article examines the changes that have made caregiving a prominent social issue and the stressors and other challenges associated with caring for older adults. A growing literature has identified interventions that lower burden and improve emotional well-being. Support from family members, friends, and from paid help can also lessen the stress caregivers experience and improve well-being. Despite the promising research findings that show it is possible to lower stress and burden, many caregivers receive no or only minimal help.