Review of The Family Caregiver’s Manual

“The Family Caregiver”

The American Society on Aging defines a family caregiver as “a person who cares for family – loved ones, [the] elderly or frail” or for “anyone with a physical or mental disability.” Today’s families can include blood relatives, life partners, marriage in-laws, friends or neighbors. Author David Levy, a gerontologist, defines a family caregiver as someone who:

• Provides legal, health, financial or social assistance in meeting the needs of a relative.
• Anticipates being the main person who will provide assistance and support when a family member – old or young – loses his or her independence.
• Helps another person by caring for or assisting their relative or friend.
• Provides care to someone with special needs who will never be fully independent.

Levy writes that the “Alpha caregiver” makes the final decisions for the patient, regardless of who else supplies daily care. “Primary caregivers” work directly with those who need care and either provide the care themselves or monitor paid or volunteer helpers. Long-distance caregiving means relying on secondhand information from on-site primary caregivers, while understanding that the information may be incomplete or inaccurate. Levy also speaks to the “sandwich generations,” family caregivers who must balance the needs of aging parents and young children. He points out that teenagers and children can help as caregivers. Age is no limit to the need for caregiving or the ability to help provide it.