Stress among caregivers of chronically ill older adults: implications for nursing practice

Caregiving is a dynamic process involving a series of decisions at different stages of a person's chronic illness trajectory. Research suggests the burdens of caregiving can lead to caregiver stress, the actual or perceived physical or emotional strain experienced by the caregiver. Nurses have a pivotal role in assessing for caregiver stress and providing interventions to assist caregivers. This article defines caregiver stress, discusses the impact that caregiving has on a caregiver, provides assessment principles to identify caregiver stress, and includes evidence-based interventions that can be tailored to individual caregivers to encourage health-promoting behaviors.