2020/01/04 by Richard Schulz, Scott R. Beach, Sara J. Czaja +2 · 726 citations
Health Professions · Medicine · Psychology · Social Sciences · #Clinical psychology #Dementia and Cognitive Impairment Research #Family caregivers #Geriatric Care and Nursing Homes #Gerontology #Intergenerational Family Dynamics and Caregiving #Intervention (counseling) #Medicine #Psychiatry #Psychological intervention #Psychology #Toll
paper · open access · doi:10.1146/annurev-psych-010419-050754
published in Annual Review of Psychology 71(1), 635-659 (Annual Reviews)
openalex publication_date 2020/01/04 · openalex created_date 2025/10/10 · openalex updated_date 2026/08/06
Family members are the primary source of support for older adults with chronic illness and disability. Thousands of published empirical studies and dozens of reviews have documented the psychological and physical health effects of caregiving, identified caregivers at risk for adverse outcomes, and evaluated a wide range of intervention strategies to support caregivers. Caregiving as chronic stress exposure is the conceptual driver for much of this research. We review and synthesize the literature on the impact of caregiving and intervention strategies for supporting caregivers. The impact of caregiving is highly variable, driven largely by the intensity of care provided and the suffering of the care recipient. The intervention literature is littered with many failures and some successes. Successful interventions address both the pragmatics of care and the emotional toll of caregiving. We conclude with both research and policy recommendations that address a national agenda for caregiving.