Identifying family caregivers as preventive medicine: An essential component of comprehensive primary care

Abstract

Many patients are also family caregivers, who care for an ill or disabled family member or friend. Most do not “self-identify” as caregivers. Over time, caregiving can have significant effects on caregivers, as they often put their own health last. Primary care is an ideal place to identify caregivers through screening for caregiving status as part of patient history. This practice allows for the triaging of caregivers to appropriate supports and services, and as such is a form of preventive medicine.