Tower of strength: A support group to improve caregiver health and well-being

A caregiver is generally defined as a family member, loved one, or friend who provides support to an individual following disease, injury, or disability (Collins & Kishita, 2019). Caregivers hold a vital role in the lives of their care recipients. They provide assistance to complete ADLs and IADLs, and they often coordinate and communicate with agencies, providers, and other professionals on behalf of the individual they are caring for (National Alliance for Caregiving [NAC] & AARP, 2020). Although caregiving can be a rewarding experience, it can also lead to psychological, social, emotional, physiological, and financial stress and impact the overall health and well-being of the caregiver over time. These stressors can lead to unhealthy coping strategies; poor overall health choices; depression; anxiety; burnout; and an increased risk of disability, morbidity, and mortality (Collins & Kishita, 2019; Singh et al., 2020). 

According to a 2020 study by NAC and AARP, the number of unpaid caregivers in America is rapidly increasing. Almost one in five adults report being unpaid caregivers to individuals with health or functional needs. Thirty-six percent of caregivers indicate that caregiving has been highly stressful for them. One in five report increased financial strain as a result of caregiving, and one in four report difficulty taking care of their own health—stating that caregiving has made their health worse. And most caregivers in this study indicated they could use more information or help in at least one area related to caregiving.