ABSTRACT
Over the past several decades, there has been an ever increasing interest in the plight of people caring at home for a family member with a chronic or serious illness. Much has been written about the burden and family changes that accompany declining health in one family member. The impact is felt at both the individual and the family level. An illness is an unwelcome, indefinite guest in the home that has the potential to cause anxiety, sadness, and chaos. Health professionals have a responsibility to be aware of the possible impact of these changes and to become a facilitator for the family social network. In this way the caregiver and the family can be empowered to make decisions and changes that are right for them. In this chapter, we outline some of the changes caregivers can experience and propose practical strategies for health professionals as a formal support for informal caregivers.
