Burden of care

Caregiver burden is the stress which is perceived by caregivers due to the home care situation. It comes out when the caregiver perceives the home care situation as a negative experience.

Family caregivers are typically not trained. Caring is a serious challenge for them. An intensive adaptation to the care situation is necessary.

The caregiver burden can be based on a variety of aspects of the care situation (e.g. lack of recovery time, challenging behaviour of the care requiring person, limitation of social activities and contacts). These four aspects are particularly burdensome:

• Care costs much of your energy
• You desire for recovery
• You have too little time for your own interests
• You are sad over the fate of the supported person