<p>A caregiver gives care to someone who needs help taking care of themselves. The person who needs help may be a child, an adult, or an older adult. They may need help because of an injury or <a href="https://medlineplus.gov/disabilities.html">disability</a>. Or they may have a chronic illness such as <a href="https://medlineplus.gov/alzheimersdisease.html">Alzheimer's disease</a> or cancer.</p> <p>Some caregivers are informal caregivers. They are usually family members or friends. Other caregivers are paid professionals. Caregivers may give care at home or in a hospital or other health care setting. Sometimes they are caregiving from a distance. The types of tasks that caregivers do may include:</p><ul> <li>Helping with daily tasks like bathing, eating, or taking medicine</li> <li>Doing housework and cooking</li> <li>Running errands such as shopping for food and clothes</li> <li>Driving the person to appointments</li> <li>Providing company and emotional support</li> <li>Arranging activities and medical care</li> <li>Making health and financial decisions</li> </ul> <p>Caregiving can be rewarding. It may help to strengthen connections to a loved one. You may feel fulfillment from helping someone else. But caregiving may also be stressful and sometimes even overwhelming. You may be "on call" for 24 hours a day. You may also be working outside the home and taking care of children. So you need to make sure that you are not ignoring your own needs. You have to <a href="https://medlineplus.gov/caregiverhealth.html">take care of your own physical and mental health</a> as well. Because when you feel better, you can take better care of your loved one. It will also be easier to focus on the rewards of caregiving.</p> <p class="">Dept. of Health and Human Services Office on Women's Health</p>