Providing Physical Assistance for Family or Friends: An Overview for the Home Health Care Professional—Part 1

Informal caregivers in the community provide assistance for loved ones in a number of ways, depending on the needs of the individual receiving care. Assistance provided can include managing medications, assisting with physical mobility such as walking and transfers, and generally monitoring health conditions. Informal caregivers provide a crucial societal need, as without this assistance healthcare facilities would be unable to meet the broad-based demand for services. This 2-part article summarizes contemporary research on informal caregiving and makes recommendations for lessening this burden within home health environments. Part 1—covered here—addresses the impact of informal caregiver burden and needed educational and training support for informal caregivers who provide physical assistance in the home. Part 2—covered in a subsequent issue of Home Health Care Management & Practice (HHCMP)—addresses—within a framework of contemporary leadership theory—suggestions for successfully lessening informal caregiver burden in home health environments.