Caregivers

A caregiver looks after someone who cannot fully care for themselves — a child, an adult, or an older person. The person may need help because of an injury, disability, or a long-term illness such as Alzheimer's disease, cancer, stroke, or chronic kidney disease.

Caregivers can be informal (typically family members or friends — the most common arrangement in India) or paid professionals such as nurses and attendants. Care may be given at home, in a hospital, or sometimes from a distance. Typical tasks include:

• Helping with daily activities — bathing, eating, dressing, taking medicines
• Cooking, cleaning, and running the household
• Shopping and errands
• Driving the person to appointments
• Providing company and emotional support
• Arranging medical care and activities
• Making health or financial decisions

Caregiving can be meaningful — it can deepen bonds with the person and bring a sense of purpose. But it can also be stressful, and sometimes overwhelming. Caregivers may be "on call" round the clock, often while holding a job and raising children. If you are a caregiver, look after your own health too — physical and mental. You cannot sustain caring for someone else if you are running on empty.

Practical supports in India include paid home-nursing services (available in most cities), respite programmes through hospitals or NGOs, and peer support groups for carers of people with dementia, cancer, and disability. Talk to your doctor or hospital social worker about what's available locally.