Caregivers provide help to another person in need. The person receiving care may be an adult - often a parent or a spouse - or a child with special medical needs. Some caregivers are family members. Others are paid. They do many things:

• Shop for food and cook
• Clean the house
• Pay bills
• Give medicine
• Help the person go to the toilet, bathe and dress
• Help the person eat
• Provide company and emotional support

Caregiving is hard, and caregivers of chronically ill people often feel stress. They are "on call" 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. If you're caring for someone with mental problems like Alzheimer's disease it can be especially difficult. Support groups can help.

Dept. of Health and Human Services Office on Women's Health