Caregivers of the Elderly: Hidden Patients and Health Team Members

With the aging of our population there is an ever increasing number of elderly who need some type of assistance, which is usually provided by caring family members. With cost-cutting measures in health care resulting in shortened terms of treatment, sicker elders are being sent home to already overtaxed families. This means that health professionals who have less time to spend with each patient must, in addition to working with their older patients, also evaluate and support caregivers to care for themselves as well as for their family members. Issues that make caregivers of older adults hidden patients as well as hidden team members are discussed and suggestions for health professionals are offered.