Caregivers and Caregiving

Discover Caregiving for Caregivers

A caregiver is anyone who provides care for another person in need, such as a child, an aging parent, a husband or wife, friend, or neighbor. Caregiving can be rewarding. It may help to strengthen connections to a loved one. But caregiving may also be stressful and sometimes even overwhelming. Taking care of your own physical and mental health is important. Because when you feel better, you can take better care of your loved one.

Discover an NNLM Reading Club book and get the conversation started.

MedlinePlus logoDiscover MedlinePlus

MedlinePlus is a service of the National Library of Medicine, the largest biomedical library in the world. Use MedlinePlus.gov anywhere, anytime, on any device - for free - to discover high-quality health and wellness information that is reliable, easy to understand, and free of advertising, in both English and Spanish.

MyHealthfinder

Also discover MyHeathfinder.gov to learn how to Get Support if You're a Caregiver.

NIH LogoDiscover NIH

The National Institutes of Health (NIH), a part of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, is the nation’s medical research agency — making important discoveries that improve health and save lives. NIH is made up of 27 Institutes and Centers, each with a specific research agenda, often focusing on particular diseases or body systems.

The National Institute on Aging (NIA) was established in 1974 to improve the health and well-being of older adults through research. NIA conducts and supports genetic, biological, clinical, behavioral, social, and economic research on aging and the challenges and needs of older adults. Explore Health Information on Caregiving

Discover More

For the Book Shelf

Fragile Years Book cover image

Self Care for Caregivers book cover imageFragile Years: Proven Strategies for the Care of Aging Loved Ones | Amy Cameron O'Rourke - Author Interview | Simon & Schuster | 2021 | 224 pages | ISBN: 978-1642939460 | WorldCat

Self-Care for Caregivers: A Practical Guide to Caring for You While You Care for Your Loved Ones | Susanne White | Simon & Schuster | 2022 | 208 pages | ISBN: 978-1507218396 | WorldCat

Resources

Tips for Caregivers: How to Communicate with your Care Recipient's Doctor
Tips for Caregivers [PDF]

Caregiver Stress Fact Sheet [PDF] (Office on Women's Health)

Caring for Others: Resources to Help You (U.S. Food and Drug Administration)

Caregiver Action Network (CAN)

The Family Caregiver Alliance (FCA) is a national organization advocating for high-quality, cost-effective policies and programs on behalf of caregivers and caregiving.

Find and Compare Nursing Homes (Medicare.gov)

Get Support If You're a Caregiver (MyHealthfinder)

National Respite Network and Resource Center (ARCH)

National Alliance for Caregiving builds partnerships in research, advocacy, and innovation to make life better for family caregivers.

Caring for a Person Who Has Intellectual or Developmental Disabilities (Created by familydoctor.org editorial staff and reviewed by Beth Oller, MD. Last updated September 2022)

Caring for Those Who Care Resources for Providers: Meeting the Needs of Diverse Family Caregivers [PDF] Diverse Elders Coalition

Community and Culture Help Black Caregivers Cope with the Challenges of Family Caregiving by Barry J. Jacobs. AARP. February 9, 2021

Finding an Aging Life Care Expert. A Geriatric Care Manager, usually a licensed nurse or social worker who specializes in geriatrics, is a sort of "professional relative" who can help you and your family to identify needs and find ways to meet your needs.

Finding help for teens who grow up caregiving for their disabled military parents by Carson Frame. Shots: Health News from NPR. March 7, 2022

The Future of Family Caregiver Support is Diverse and Inclusive by Amanda Singleton. AARP. March 4, 2020

Guide for Caregivers (National Multiple Sclerosis Society) [PDF] Also in Spanish

Home Based Primary Care is part of the the VHA Standard Medical Benefits Package and for Veterans who have complex health care needs for whom routine clinic-based care is not effective. All enrolled Veterans are eligible.

Latina Sees Caring For Her Mother As Part Of Life's Circle by Matthew Casey. KJZZ News Phoenix. October 18, 2017

National Indian Council on Aging: For Caregivers and The Savvy Caregiver in Indian Country Trainer’s Manual

Programs of All-Inclusive Care for the Elderly (PACE) provides comprehensive and interdisciplinary medical and social services to certain frail, community-dwelling elderly individuals, most of whom are dually eligible for Medicare and Medicaid benefits.

When Someone You Love is Being Treated for Cancer: Support for Caregivers (National Cancer Institute)

Who are today’s Hispanic/Latino family caregivers? [PDF] National Alliance for Caregiving and AARP 2020

Why We Must Support our Hispanic/Latinx Caregivers by Yanira Cruz and Ocean Le. Generation's Today. American Society on Aging. Retrieved October 13, 2022

Caregiving Tips for Families of People With Disabilities (CDC)

Podcasts

Featured Books

  • Title: Already Toast
    Author Kate Washington
    Publisher Beacon Press
    Year published 2021
    Visit page...
    Already Toast book cover
  • Title: In Stroke's Shadow
    Author Kyle Ruffin
    Publisher Fulton Books
    Year published 2021
    Visit page...
    In Stroke's Shadow book cover
  • Title: Mother Lode
    Author Gretchen Staebler
    Publisher She Writes Press
    Year published 2022
    Visit page...
    Mother Lode book cover

Terms of use: Network of the National Library of Medicine (NNLM) staff offer these health discussion resources for educational use. The materials included do not necessarily reflect the views or opinions of the author, publisher, or the sponsoring agencies of the National Library of Medicine (NLM) and the National Institutes of Health (NIH).