What is Informal caregivers - Meaning and definition

Published by Roberto Wenk. Reviewed by Alison Ramsey. Last updated date: January 7, 2019.

Those untrained and unpaid people who provide care to an ill person because of their relationship with them.
Informal care is provided mainly by family members or others who are close to the sick person, such as neighbors and friends.

Gysels MH and Higginson IJ. Caring for a person in advanced illness and suffering from breathlessness at home: threats and resources. Palliative and Supportive Care. 2009. 7:153-162.

Published by Roberto Wenk. Reviewed by Alison Ramsey. Last updated date: January 7, 2019.

Includes family members and friends of the patient who provide physical, emotional, and spiritual support.

The factors that cause physical and psychological impact on caregivers include physical tasks, financial costs, emotional burden, and time constraints. Physicians should address the needs of the caregivers with good communication, appropriate advance care planning and decision making, supporting care within the home, and addressing bereavement needs.

A study shows that 72% of adults received help from informal caregivers during the last year of life, and 34% of caregivers of patients with high-care needs had symptoms of depression.

Paice JA. The Interdisciplinary Team. Emanuel LL, Librach SL (Ed). Palliative Care – Core Skills and Clinical Competencies. 2nd ed. St. Louis(MI), Elsevier, 2011. pp. 540-551.

Informal caregivers

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