Lynn Friss Feinberg

Evidence is mounting that caring for a chronically ill family member often has harmful effects on the physical and emotional health of the caregiver -- a consequence with broad implications for families, policymakers, and health and social services practitioners in the field of aging. The Family Caregiver Alliance (FCA), a national organization based in San Francisco, has just released a factsheet discussing this significant public health issue. The factsheet summarizes research on the effects of caregiving on the well-being of caregivers and presents recommendations for responding to the situation.

"Increased family stress, depression and physical health problems of the caregiver often mean greater healthcare use and higher costs for both families and society," said Lynn Friss Feinberg, an ASA member who is deputy director of the National Center on Caregiving at FCA. "Practitioners and care managers can play a pivotal role in identifying family caregivers whose own health may be jeopardized and in providing them with caregiver support services or referrals to community resources. Caring for the caregiver is good policy and practice."

The factsheet on caregiver health is available at no charge on the Family Caregiver Alliance website. Print copies are available for $2 each; to order, write to Publication Orders, Family Caregiver Alliance, 180 Montgomery Street, Suite 1100, San Francisco, CA 94104.

Photo: Courtesy Family Caregiver Alliance

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