Caregiver
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Your new role as caregiver will affect the whole family.

Caregiving is probably one of the hardest jobs you'll ever do. The emotional and physical stresses of providing care can bring a variety of emotions, ranging from sadness and fear to anger and resentment.

Caregiving can bring out the best and worst in us. Many people find the experience of caring for a loved one rewarding, but it's not always a positive experience.

• Does your family support you in your new caregiving role?
• Do they understand that they will have to make some changes, too?
• Are your siblings in agreement about the situation? Will they participate in the care or supervision of their parent?

Caregiving can challenge even the healthiest of relationships. And a history of difficult relationships with the care receiver or with other family members can make caregiving particularly challenging.

• Do you generally get along with your parent or relative? Or do you have an adversarial relationship?
• Are there any unresolved conflicts or old resentments?
• Are you prepared for the role reversal of being the "parent" now?

Links to other sites with information on this topic:

Managing Stress, a section on AARP's website, includes suggestions for taking care of yourself every day, organizing your time, and knowing when it's time to get help.

MEDLINEplus: Caregivers.

Caregiver Stress Test.

Senior Care Web: Caregiver Issues addresses topics specific to caregiver health, among others