Caregiving refers to providing assistance and support to someone who is ill, disabled, or unable to fully care for themselves. A caregiver is a person who tends to the needs or concerns of another individual with limitations due to illness, injury, or disability.
The key points about caregiving are:
- A caregiver can be a family member, friend, neighbor, or paid professional who provides care and support to someone in need.[1][2]
- Caregiving involves helping with activities of daily living such as bathing, dressing, eating, taking medications, as well as providing emotional support, running errands, managing finances, and coordinating medical care.[1][4]
- Caregiving can be rewarding but also physically and emotionally demanding, often requiring caregivers to balance their own needs with those of the care recipient.[1][4]
- Caregivers may provide care at home, in a healthcare facility, or from a distance, and their responsibilities can increase as the care recipient’s needs change over time.[3]
- Both unpaid informal caregivers (family/friends) and paid formal caregivers play vital roles in providing long-term care and support.[3]
- As the population ages, the need for caregivers is growing, making it a significant public health issue impacting the quality of life for millions.[3]
In summary, caregiving involves providing various forms of assistance and support to help someone with limitations due to aging, illness or disability manage their daily needs and maintain their quality of life.[1][2][3][4]
Citations:
[1] https://www.oncolink.org/support/caregivers/caregiving-basics
[2] https://www.hopkinsmedicine.org/about/community-health/johns-hopkins-bayview/services/called-to-care/what-is-a-caregiver
[3] https://www.cdc.gov/aging/caregiving/caregiver-brief.html
[4] https://medlineplus.gov/caregivers.html
[5] https://www.caringinfo.org/planning/caregiving/what-is-caregiving/