Caregivers provide necessary support to someone who, due to age, illness, disability, or some other factor, cannot care for themselves. Caregiving may involve shopping, housekeeping, providing transportation, feeding, bathing, toilet assistance, dressing, walking, coordinating appointments and medical treatments, or managing a person’s finances.
What Is Caregiving? (Plain Language Explanation)
Caregiving refers to a pattern of thoughts, feelings, and behaviors that many people experience. While it can be challenging, it's also well-understood and treatable.
Key Terms to Know About Caregiving
- Symptoms: The specific ways caregiving shows up for you
- Triggers: Situations or thoughts that activate or worsen caregiving
- Evidence-based: Treatments backed by scientific research
- Comorbidity: When caregiving occurs alongside other conditions
3 Things Most People Don't Know About Caregiving
- Caregiving is far more common than most people realize
- Caregiving is not caused by weakness — it has identifiable biological and psychological causes
- Most people with caregiving see significant improvement with the right support
Your Next Steps
Learning about caregiving is just the beginning. If you think you're experiencing caregiving, speaking with a mental health professional is the most valuable next step.