Assessment |
Biopsychology |
Comparative |
Cognitive |
Developmental |
Language |
Individual differences |
Personality |
Philosophy |
Social |
Methods |
Statistics |
Clinical |
Educational |
Industrial |
Professional items |
World psychology |
Clinical: Approaches · Group therapy · Techniques · Types of problem · Areas of specialism · Taxonomies · Therapeutic issues · Modes of delivery · Model translation project · Personal experiences ·
Father and baby
A caregiver or carer is an individual who usually provides unpaid help and support on a regular basis to a partner, child, relative, friend, or neighbour. The person they're caring for may be frail, young, elderly, living with a physical or mental health illness, disabled, or dealing with addiction.
Some caregivers provide care without payment because the person's wellbeing is important to them. The terms "caregiver" and "carer" may include professionals and paraprofessionals in the caring professions.
In the UK it is estimated that carers provide 52 billion pounds of services, which is more than the equivalent of the NHS budget. Even if this estimate is exaggerated, it indicate the amount of work carers contribute to a care economy.
In the past their role has been rather taken for granted, but in recent years, particularly with the development of community care philosophies, considerable effort has gone into supporting them in their work.
It is important to understand that many carers are themselves not always completely able. Sometimes, young children, disabled people, or elderly people end up providing care for loved ones (e.g. sick parents or elderly loved ones). These people can be particularly vulnerable and may benefit from considerable support.
Types of caregivers[]
There are many types of caregivers. These include, but are not limited to:
- A voluntary caregiver
- Male caregivers
- Primary caregiver (e.g. parents)
- Young carers (children and teens)
Types of setting in which caregiving occurs[]
- An assisted living situation
- A nursing home
- A hospice care situation
- Home care
Assessment of carers[]
The stress of caring[]
Caregiving can be a particular stressful experience for some people, especially those lacking social support or time for self-care. It can often feel an unrelenting responsibility that can lead to social isolation, burnout, and even increased rates of illness amongst carers. This has been recognised in the concept of the caregiver burden.
Support services for carers[]
- Social meetings to prevent social isolation
- Sitting services to give carers a short break to shop or have an evening out.
- Residential respite care facilities to offer breaks for caregivers
- Professional advice and support as required, either by phone or through group meetings.
International picture[]
- Main article: Carers and carer organizations by country
For a list of carer resources for each area of mental health, see our Carer pages.
See also[]
- Caregiver burden
- Elder care
- Ethics of care
- Home care
- Home care personnel
- Quality of care
- Respite care