General public definition
- Caregiver burden means the additional negative effects, on the caregiver, of caring for someone.
- These negative effects can include less available time for social activities, leisure time, or work, or financial problems.
- The caregiver may also experience physical, psychological, social, and emotional impacts, and feel fatigued, depressed, anxious, helpless, and socially isolated.17
Academic definition
- Caregiver burden is divided into two categories:
- Objective caregiver burden refers to the negative effects of the care recipient’s illness on the caregiver because of the demands placed on the caregiver’s time for work and social and leisure activities, and/or financial burden.
- Subjective caregiver burden refers to the physical, psychological, social, and emotional impact of caregiving, such as feelings of fatigue, depression, anxiety, helplessness, and social isolation.17
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