Supporting Patients and Peers Who are Family Caregivers

The concept of family caregiving has finally risen to prominence in both popular culture and professional literature. The National Alliance for Caregiving and AARP recently released an annual report highlighting the prevalence of caregiving. With family caregivers representing more than 40 million Americans, this translates to 1 in 8 adults caring for another adult or older adult (65 and older). The Centers for Disease Control (CDC) recognizes family caregiving as a public health priority of national concern. So what does this mean for healthcare professionals, including physicians and nurses? Because many patients are family caregivers for an older relative, healthcare professionals should be inquiring about their caregiving role and its impact, both positive and negative, on their overall well-being. Further, healthcare professionals need to recognize that the support afforded to family caregivers should also be extended to peers and colleagues who are providing care to their patients and then return home to provide elder care to a family member. These caregivers are known as double duty caregivers. Essentially, this means they are never “off duty” between family and professional care duties. We argue that healthcare professionals, authors included, have room to do better in supporting the needs of patients and peers who are engaged in elder care and this process starts with simply identifying caregivers and offering them a link to community resources.