Caregiver Self-Assessment

Is caring for a loved one stressful?

Caring for a loved one can be both one of the most fulfilling and most demanding experiences you will ever have. Over time, caregiving can take a toll on your physical and emotional health, but it can offer benefits and blessings, as well. Caring for a loved one affects people in different ways.

To find out how being a caregiver is affecting you, answer “yes” or “no” to the five statements below:

1. Helping my loved one has led to symptoms in my physical or emotional health.
2. Being a caregiver has created work-related or financial difficulties.
3. Caring for my loved one has led to isolation or difficulties with my family or friends.
4. Caregiving responsibilities sometimes make me feel pessimistic, uncertain, or overwhelmed.
5. Helping my loved one has taken more satisfaction from my life than it has given me.

These items provide a snapshot of the consequences of caregiving. More “yes” answers indicate that you see signs of stress in your health, work life, finances, family relationships