A caregiver of an older adult is a person who regularly looks after someone who requires intensive, tailored and unique physical, emotional, nutritional and/or social assistance. One in five full-time employees care for a family member or friend who has a serious illness, developmental disorder or disability.

A caregiver may, monitor their care recipient’s medication and physical needs, provide meals, assist with bathing and dressing, or simply spend time with the person. All across the world, regardless of language, culture, or nation, taking care of close friend or family member has become a more frequent experience. According to the National Alliance for Caregiving, there are 55 million caregivers in the United States alone, or nearly 21% of the total population.

A significant amount of research demonstrates that caregivers experience difficulties with their own emotional, mental, and physical health as a result of the care they provide. The decision to give up something in order to care for an older adult can create a complicated way of life that can be extremely difficult. Compared to non-caregivers, caregivers experience higher levels of stress, and caregivers with chronic stress may be at greater risk of cognitive decline and other physical and mental health problems. This occurs because there is so much to do for the person being cared for each day that self-care for the caregiver is frequently neglected, delayed, or given lower priority. We need to recognize that caregivers have their own needs that must be attended to for both the caregiver and the care recipient to thrive.

The mission of RUSH Caring for Caregivers is to support family members or friends who are caring for adults 60 and older by offering services that focus on reducing caregiver stress, preventing caregiver burnout, and assisting caregivers with balancing between the needs of their care recipient with their own needs.

We recognize that although caregivers are people who need support, they are often overlooked. People who provide care for others can, and should, request further assistance. It is important to understand the path of the care recipient’s illness and that incorporating additional assistance is typically needed at some point. According to studies, caregivers function best when they build in support with their caregiving duties. Caring for Caregivers helps caregivers find the assistance that they need by creating a care plan based on What Matters to both the caregiver and the care recipient, and expanding the care team to include those people and services that work best for everyone involved.