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Caring At a Cost: The Burden of the Caretaker
There are numerous challenges and stresses placed upon a caregiver providing support for a patient suffering from a mental or chronic illness. Individuals stepping into the role of a caregiver can carry with it many risks. Focusing attention on the carer is not meant to diminish the importance of caregiving, but to give attention to the effects it has on the carer as well as the overall outcome of the care recipient.
Studies have shown that “caregivers often will suffer from depression, strain, and feeling like they’ve compromised their quality of life”. (Gelkopf & Roe, 2001, p. 151). According to Schubart (2014) “The mental health of a carer is often overlooked, and the relationship between
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923, 924) “A meta-analysis of 70 randomized studies comparing interventions with usual medical care found positive effects for caregiver burden, depression, and anxiety.”(Schubart, 2014, p.