Caring for Family Caregivers and the Cognitively Impaired Care-Receiver

Research validating the role of the family as caregivers has been well documented for the past quarter century. Although family caregiving is not new, today's new technology has increased both the complexity and the time span of care. Hence, caring for chronically ill or physically or mentally incapacitated older family members has become a normal family function. Subsequently, the focus and findings of numerous studies centered on the identification of "caregiver burden, " "caregiver stress, " and "caregiver strain. " This article provides interventions to assist the nurse in caring for family caregivers, as well as care receivers.