Who are the Caregivers?
Who is a caregiver?
A caregiver is a person who cares for a family member, friend or, more generally, any person who is not adequately self-sufficient due to illness, disability or advanced age. The term “caregiver” comes from English and means “one who provides care.”
In Italy, there are an estimated more than 8 million caregivers, most of whom are women (about 70 percent).
Often the term caregiver is used generically in current Italian, out of habit or understandable preference to the terms of one’s own language.
However, the term caregiver encompasses multiple categories of people dedicated to supporting the person in need, while the figure of the caregiver has its own specificity, both in terms of training and professional commitment.
The caregiver’s commitment is very multifaceted and demanding; in order to carry it out, they are essential:
- patience and perseverance;
- dedication and reliability;
- care and thoughtfulness.
Each of these skills is essential to the proper conduct of the activity, especially in relation to the well-being of both the person being cared for and the caregiver himself.
The activities a caregiver takes care of vary depending on the person being cared for and their needs, but can range from:
- Physical assistance: helping the person dress, wash, eat and move around.
- Health care: administering medications, monitoring the person’s health and accompanying them to medical appointments.
- Domestic assistance: grocery shopping, cooking, house cleaning, and laundry.
- Companionship: being with the person being cared for, talking to them and listening to them.
- Emotional support: helping the person cope with loneliness, depression and anxiety.
Caregivers play a fundamental role in society, particularly in the rapidly aging Italian society. Indeed, caregivers provide a way for many people to be able to continue living in contact with the places and people they care about, providing a daily routine that reduced autonomy would no longer allow them to enjoy.
Their work is often as invisible and undervalued as it is of enormous value to individuals as well as to the community.
The different types of caregivers
There are different types of caregivers, which can be classified according to their relationship with the person being cared for and the type of care they provide, as mentioned earlier for caregivers.
Indeed, among caregivers we can find:
- Family caregivers
Family members are almost always the primary caregivers of the person who requires care. This is obviously because we take care of one’s relative spontaneously and freely, beyond the obligations imposed by law, sacrificing our own free time and personal needs. This is also the category at greatest risk, often having to perform this role in situations of need and emergency, without being able to count on adequate training and lacking the necessary emotional detachment to see situations in the correct perspective. - Caregiver friends
The network of friends often a plays a key role in caring for the person with little to no self-sufficiency, especially in the dimension of emotional support and combating loneliness, but also in identifying the right strategies and resources for coping, thanks to a more diverse range of connections and skills than the family unit. Although this is rarely a direct, physical order of care, it should not be underestimated, however, and it can have an equally important impact on the quality of vhality of the caregiver. - Caregivers
Professional figures who are paid to provide care for the person being cared for. They are mainly hired in the home, so as to ensure constant supervision of the person being cared for, so as to be able to intervene promptly in case of need, which is very often characterized by a lack of possibility of predetermination.
It is a physically and emotionally demanding activity, because it involves inserting oneself into the everyday family dynamics and the related critical - Professional caregivers
These are figures who specialize in caring for people with disabilities or chronic illnesses or who require high-skill interventions. These categories include social workers, nurses, physical therapists, professional educators or social workers.
The choice of the most suitable type of caregiver depends on several factors, including in particular:
- The needs of the assisted person;
- The availability of family time and economic resources;
Different types of care are often combined to adequately meet the needs of the dependent person or according to the availability of resources.
Regardless of the type of caregivers and the combination among them, their role is critical to the well-being of dependent persons and their families.
The fundamental role of the caregiver in society
As anticipated, caregivers provide input into the lives of many families and society as a whole, profoundly affecting the physical and emotional well-being of individuals and households in fragile situations.
Their work is a real guard and safeguard against the risk of individual and collective marginalization, enabling them to contain the human and economic costs that would result.
Looking at these benefits in detail, we can identify the various types of contributions at these points:
- Reduced health care costs: home care provided by caregivers is almost always cheaper than admission to a residential facility, which should be preferred only when specific care can no longer be addressed in a home setting.
- Improved quality of life of caregivers: by ensuring a continuity of daily living in the spaces and affections of caregivers, caregivers preserve the individual’s sense of integrity and habits, countering the reduction in quality of life due to loss of autonomy.
- Support for families: caregivers enable families to reconcile the care of their loved ones with work and personal needs, thus avoiding forced stops in the career path and the resulting loss of productivity and skills for the worker and the company.
- Prevention of social isolation: caregivers help caregivers maintain social relationships, which are crucial for maintaining quality of life and recovering or slowing down illness. Breaking down isolation and feelings of loneliness are essential tools for ensuring an adequate standard of quality of life and counteracting forms of marginalization that lead to degeneration of physical and mental health
Dedication, commitment and professionalism directly impact the family and collective welfare system, ensuring its sustainability.
The challenges and rewards of care work
Caring work, while of great value and importance, presents several challenges that can be physically, emotionally and financially extremely demanding, and they need not be underestimated.
Common challenges include:
- Physical stress: caring for a dependent person can require a great deal of physical exertion, with the risk of fatigue and injury if not properly trained, especially in maneuvering operations.
- Emotional stress: caregivers often find themselves managing and experiencing emotions such as frustration, anger, sadness, and a sense of helplessness in the face of the caregiver’s difficulties.
- Scarce free time: Care work can require many hours a day, with reduced recovery breaks, often leaving limited free time for oneself and one’s social and family life.
- Work-family reconciliation difficulties: caregivers often have to reconcile caring for their loved one with work and family demands, which are frequently far apart, generating a sense of guilt and frustration.
- Social isolation: caregivers may feel isolated and lonely, with few opportunities to socialize and unplug, especially if, due to work demands, they are away from their family’s place of residence and social network.
- Financial Problems: In some cases, care work may result in reduced family income, especially due to a necessary but forced choice of care at the expense of one’s work commitment, which then comes to a traumatic halt economically and professionally.
We will cover these critical issues in detail in the following paragraphs.
However, it is important to remember how, despite the challenges and difficulties, caregiving work has exceptional rewards that are difficult to find in other professions.
This can be seen in the enthusiasm of many people who, following relocation to caregiving due to job loss, have found a satisfaction in their work that they had not previously encountered, giving their efforts a sense of accomplishment.
Common gratifications include:
- Sense of satisfaction: caregivers may feel a great sense of satisfaction in knowing that they are making a difference in the life of a loved one.
- Love and gratitude: caregivers can receive love and gratitude from the cared-for person and his or her family members.
- Personal development: Care work certainly helps to develop new skills, especially in the area of relationships, and to grow humanly as people.
- Sense of belonging to a community: caregivers often find support and friendship in other caregivers, or among loved ones of the person cared for, expanding the relational and social network dimension.
It is crucial to emphasize how the challenges and difficulties, and the rewards of care work are two sides of the same coin.
Depending on the context and predisposition, they may turn one way rather than the other, or be necessary to each other.
It is important to be aware that both aspects are present, so that we can approach this commitment with awareness and serenity.
These are some essential tips, which we will take up in the next paragraphs, for managing the challenges of care work:
- Taking care of yourself: it is important to carve out time for yourself to rest, exercise and cultivate your interests.
- Seek support: first of all informally in one’s social and professional network, but it is good to remember that there are structured support services for caregivers, such as support groups, psychologists and social workers.
- Sharing the burden of care: it is always advisable for the caregiver to share the burden, both work and emotional, involving the family and friend network of the care recipient, but also all public services deputed to support these situations, without phrases discouraged by the initial difficulties in activation. .
- Learning to say no: It is important to learn to say “no” when you are too tired or stressed. A “no” said calmly when necessary avoids meltdowns and far more disastrous and irreversible consequences later on.
- Recognizing one‘s limits: accepting and recognizing one’s limits, asking for help when needed, is among the basic skills of the caregiver. Listening to one’s emotions, one’s physique, difficulties in understanding certain situations, and knowing how to respond with appropriate ones to challenges is most likely the main characteristic a caregiver must develop.
The challenges of caregiving
The physical and mental stress of the caregiver
Care work can be very demanding and stressful, both physically and mentally.
Physical stress arises from daily caregiving activities, which may require considerable physical exertion, such as lifting the person being cared for, helping them to dress or bathe.
This can lead to fatigue, muscle and joint pain, posture problems and, in some cases, minor injuries.
More subtle, though distinctly more impactful, is mental stress.
Therefore it is good to keep in mind what the main sources are so as not to underestimate them and attempt to find a solution or circumscribe them:
- Concern for the health and well-being of the person being cared for;
- sense of responsibility and having to be present at all times;
- Difficulties in dealing with negative emotions;
- Lack of free time;
- social isolation.
Mental stress should not be underestimated, because if prolonged it can lead to far more problematic picture, such as:
- anxiety;
- depression;
- sleep disorders;
- difficulty in concentration;
- memory problems;
- mood changes;
- poor appetite.
Pay attention if some of these situations occur, so that a course of action can be taken to remedy them promptly.
As already introduced in the previous chapter, we reiterate some tips for ensuring quality of life and work, in this case of a more practical and immediate order:
- Carve out time for themselves;
- Doing physical activity;
- Sufficient sleep;
- healthy eating;
- Identify or discover relaxation methods and techniques;
- Talk to a mental health professional.
It is not only important to ask for help when needed, but essential so that the situation does not escalate, turning first to one’s social and professional network and, if the situation calls for it, not being afraid to turn to more structured services such as support groups, social workers and psychologists.
The emotional burden and management of burnout
As we have pointed out many times before, care work can be very emotionally demanding, much more so than physically.
Caregivers are often faced with concern for the health and well-being of the person being cared for, a sense of helplessness and frustration in the face of his or her difficulties, and sadness and grief at his or her decline. Anger, guilt, and other negative feelings, can find fertile ground, especially if in conditions of loneliness and social isolation.
This can lead to burnout, a syndrome characterized by physical and mental exhaustion, loss of interest and motivation for care work, a feeling of detachment from the person being cared for, low self-esteem and depression.
This syndrome should in no way be underestimated and taken care of early, because it can have terrible effects on the person suffering it and those close to him or her.
To prevent burnout, we again reiterate, without tiring, how important it is for caregivers to take care of themselves, seek support and learn to manage their emotions.
Although in this article we have been careful to report advice on this subject earlier, in the next chapter we will deal comprehensively with the topic of solutions to be undertaken.
Burnout is indeed a serious problem, but it can be prevented with the right support and strategies. It is important not to be ashamed of it, so that you can get help early enough to recover and enthusiastically resume this important role.
The difficulties of balancing work and private life
Let us now deal with one of the main difficulties facing a caregiver from the very beginning of the new engagement.
Reconciling work and private life is indeed an arduous task for anyone, but it becomes even more difficult for those who have to care for a dependent family member. Caregivers, in fact, are faced with two onerous and often incompatible tasks: paid work on the one hand, and caring for a loved one on the other.
The difficulties of reconciliation are many and varied. First, care work requires time and effort, often taking energy and resources away from the work sphere. The needs of the caregiver can be pressing and unpredictable, making it difficult to maintain a regular presence in the workplace.
This is compounded by guilt and concern for one’s loved one, which can interfere with concentration and work productivity.
Not only that, caregiving can have a negative impact on social and private life.
Leisure time is drastically reduced, limiting opportunities for recreation and interaction with friends and family.
Physical and mental fatigue, especially worries, negatively affect interpersonal relationships, creating tension and misunderstandings.
In the face of these challenges and difficulties, it is crucial that caregivers are not afraid to seek and undertake solutions that promote a balance between different needs.
Some useful strategies may be:
- Demand work flexibility: agreeing with the employer on flexible hours, part-time or telecommuting can help better manage caregiving time.
- Seek support: family members, friends, home care services or caregivers can lighten the burden of care and allow the caregiver to carve out time for himself or herself.
- Organize your day: planning daily activities and prioritizing them can help optimize time and better manage tasks.
- Learning to say no: not feeling obligated to take on additional responsibilities beyond those you are able to handle is crucial to avoid overload.
- Taking care of oneself: once again we would like to insist on how carving out time for one’s favorite activities, getting adequate rest, and taking care of one’s physical and mental health is critical to the caregiver’s well-being.
So don’t beat yourself up. Reconciling work and personal life when you are a caregiver is challenging, but not impossible.
Appropriate strategies and the practice of resilience, will enable you to find a balance that allows you to care for your loved one without sacrificing beyond your limits your own well-being and personal fulfillment.
Social isolation and lack of support
Social isolation and lack of support are two most significant and fearsome difficulties that caregivers often face.
Immersed in caring for their loved one, they may gradually see their social network reduced and feel lonely and isolated.
The causes of caregiver social isolation can be multiple and coexisting:
- Lack of free time: time devoted to caregiving drastically reduces opportunities to socialize and participate in activities with friends and family;
- guilt and responsibility: caregivers may feel in a pressing and reflexive duty to devote all their time to the caregiver, sacrificing their social life;
- communication difficulties: the challenges and emotions associated with caregiving can be difficult to communicate to those who do not have the same experience, creating barriers with loved ones and major misunderstandings, which can escalate into devastating human and relational conflicts.
- Concern for the cared-for person: the caregiver may be so concerned about the health and well-being of their loved one or caregiver that they neglect their own social relationships and close themselves off in “monastic isolation,” devoting themselves totally to the cause and losing their sense of reality.
The lack of support clearly exacerbates social isolation and has an extremely negative impact on the caregiver’s psychological and physical well-being and, consequently, on the person being cared for.
Here are some of the possible effects of social isolation and lack of support that should not be overlooked:
- sense of loneliness and sadness;
- depression and anxiety;
- stress and burnout;
- Difficulty in concentration and memory;
- physical health problems.
These are useful strategies to counter this risky situation:
- Talk to family and friends: opening up with loved ones can help you feel less lonely and receive emotional support;
- Join a caregiver support group: sharing experiences and challenges with other caregivers can be a source of comfort and practical advice;
- Seek professional help: a psychologist can help the caregiver deal with negative emotions and stress;
- use specialized home care services: these services can provide relief to the caregiver, eliminate feelings of helplessness and inadequacy, and allow him or her to carve out time for themselves;
- participate in online or in-person activities for caregivers: joining online forums or attending meetup groups can help you connect with other caregivers and find new friendships and compare notes with others who share the same issues.
It is possible for caregivers to break the isolation and build a network of people to help them cope with the challenges of their role and care for themselves. It is also very important for people close to them to help them in this process.
How to support caregivers
As promised in past chapters, we are now going to delve into the tips mentioned earlier for giving and receiving the best possible support for caregivers.
We will go into detail about the most effective strategies that we have found over time and that are now part of Farmoderm’s wealth of experience.
We have also addressed this topic in a specific article of Ours, to which we leave you for more details, you can find it on this page:
Caregiver burnout: 10 tips for coping with stress >
Strategies for managing stress and burnout
Stress and burnout are the two main risks caregivers face.
As promised, let us now delve into the main strategies to adopt before it is too late.
Let’s start by reiterating the main activity that we must always take into account and from which we descend: taking care of ourselves.
These are the three activities that should never be neglected:
- Making time for yourself
It is critical to the physical and, more importantly, mental well-being of the caregiver. While no one would imagine keeping a car in constant gear or a household appliance running, we often unreasonably forget to do this with people, even though our bodies are much more tied to cycles of rest, especially our brains.
Whether it’s a restorative rest, free from worries of being interrupted, or a fulfilling hobby, or even exercising, are just as important as feeding.
Therefore, just as we devote scarcely compressible space, time and resources to meals, do the same with well-deserved rest, which, for caregivers, is especially well-deserved! - Healthy Eating
Although we have just observed how space, time and resources of meals are among the aspects that clearly cannot be ignored in the economy of daily living, this does not mean that they are often affected by neglect, haste and superficiality. Feeding is not the same as nourishment, and in the medium and long term this can affect the same as sleep deprivation. Scruffy meals or meals cut out in haste or subjected to stress may happen in the caregiver’s commitment, but if they become the regularity they undermine mental serenity and physical strength. The importance of the comfort of a meal and the impact in recovery and stress management should not be underestimated. - Identify methods of stress management
The use of phrases and words, pictures and memories, and other ways of communicating with oneself and the caregiver are simple but outstanding tools in managing moments of tension and stress, which can relax tensions and prevent them from escalating. Some caregivers also engage in more structured modalities such as meditation, yoga or collaborative communication (“Rosenberg” method) to be even more effective. Listening to relaxing music can also be of great help in reducing anxiety and tension.
Another key aspect, a true “safety rope” against the “abyss” of burnout, is to seek and provide support. However, what are the main strategies to ensure that this aspect is not neglected? Let’s look at them together!
- Talking with family and friends
Support from loved ones is the first source of comfort and practical support. Understanding the caregiver’s travails, tensions and difficulties is essential to support the caregiver and not sap his/her spirit and motivation. Therefore, it must be ensured that the caregiver is listened to, with empathy and seriousness, and has the opportunity for contact with loved ones. - Join a caregiver support group
Peer groups are the perfect environments to be understood, sharing the same experience, and where gathering practical advice sharing experiences and challenges with other caregivers can be a source of comfort and practical advice. - Seek professional help
When even loved ones and support groups are no longer enough and the situation has become very critical, it is good to have no qualms and contact a professional in personal support, such as a psychologist, professional educators or social workers, so that you can get help to “get back on track” with specific and professional strategy.
Time care is equally important in particular:
- Plan daily activities
Establishing priorities and planning activities helps optimize time and avoid the stress of emergencies, so you feel a greater sense of control and peace of mind over tasks. - Learn to say no, that you cannot
Limits serve to protect caregivers but also to better organize the situation and mobilize to find resources. Not feeling obligated to take on additional responsibilities beyond what you are able to handle is critical to avoid overload and then collapse. The caregiver should not feel obligated to make up for all situations.
Finally, it can be of considerable help to rely on specific forms of help for special tasks:
- Use home care services
These services can intervene in specific situations where the caregiver feels professionally inadequate (think certain health care interventions), so as to reduce stress and anxiety while allowing the caregiver to carve out time for himself or herself. - Asking family and friends for help
Surely this is the basic and most widely adopted strategy, as for small help, such as grocery shopping or cooking a meal, that can make more of a difference than one might think. Although it is widely practiced, it is underestimated how much more effective it can be if these people network, dividing up the requests, so as to avoid overloading on some and involve those who are more knowledgeable specifically. This makes it possible to optimize the burden of requesting support and give a great so sense of protection and safety to the caregiver.
Tips for improving communication with caregiving
Just as communication is most important in daily life, both to achieve results and to establish and maintain rewarding relationships, it is even more so with the person being cared for, who is in a situation of particular fragility and distress, so as to establish a relationship of trust and cooperation with them.
Here is a brief summary of some tips for developing effective communication:
- Listen carefully: it is important to listen carefully to the person being cared for in order to understand his or her needs and emotions; these are often the most important things he or she lives and has.
- Speak in clear and simple language: using simple and understandable language is important to avoid misunderstandings. Try to empathize with his world to figure out which words are most easily understood.
- Be patient: the caregiver may have difficulty communicating, so it is important to be patient and understanding. The first skill of a caregiver is always patience.
- Respect the person being cared for: it is important to maintain a calm and respectful tone of voice, avoiding a paternalistic attitude and, above all, taking oppositional or hostile attitudes personally. It is always good to keep in mind that you are interacting with a person who is ill and/or in a serious state of difficulty or frailty.
- Encourage communication: it is important to encourage the assisted person to express his or her thoughts and emotions, so have as clear a picture as possible of needs and expectations.
- Be empathetic: it is important to try to put ourselves in the shoes of the person being cared for in order to understand his or her point of view, however distant and unintelligible in our eyes.
- Communicating with family members: it is important to communicate with the family members of the person being cared for to keep them informed about his or her situation and to involve them in important decisions.
- Seek professional help: if you have difficulty communicating with the person being cared for, it is important to seek professional help; in fact, it may happen that you do not have the appropriate skills.
If you would like to explore this topic further, we have written two other articles on the subject for flights that we believe you may find very useful and interesting:
- 8 Tips to help the elderly overcome fear of medical care
- Effective communication with older people who don’t want to listen: 8 tips for caregivers
Happy reading!
Support services available for caregivers
In addition to the tips and strategies we have suggested, there are numerous support services for caregivers that can be activated at multiple levels, from local to national to regional
At the local level you find the services of greater accessibility and more dedicated to caregiving:
- ASL counters, municipalities and territorial social services: offer information, advice and the services designed by the public administration to support frailty.
- Private home care services: provide practical help in caring for the person being cared for.
- Caregiver support groups: allow caregivers to share experiences and receive advice from other caregivers.
- Day Care Centers for the Elderly and Disabled: provide socialization and rehabilitation activities for caregivers.
- Third sector and volunteerism: there are a number of associations that intervene in situations of fragility, offering support to caregivers and supplanting public administration services.
At the regional and national levels should be considered:
- Regions, which can provide financial contributions and vouchers for home care and other caregiving activities.
- INPS, similar to the regions, offers intervention plans for economic support to people with frailty, also intervening on caregivers through allowances and pensions.
- Ministry of Labor and Social Policy: promotes initiatives to support caregivers.
It is important to be aware of these available services and never hesitate to request their use, despite the fact that access procedures can be difficult.
The main channels for discovering and accessing these support services are:
- One’s family doctor, who is often the starting point for access to all services offered by the public administration.
- The dedicated counter of their municipality, which can be identified in the relevant department.
- Contact volunteer caregiving associations or those that, although not specific, can suggest where to turn.
- Just as you landed on this page, don’t underestimate a good web search!
Farmoderm’s role in supporting caregivers
Farmoderm’s products and services
Farmoderm is a company whose core goals include supporting caregivers with innovative products that best meet the needs of caregivers.
We know that the quality of a product makes a difference in the quality of life of a person living with illness and in a frail state.
Caregivers who use our products know that they are providing special treatment to the person being cared for, providing him or her with relief and special attention that is repaid with great gratitude.
Our range of products is very wide, because we want to give all caregivers a way to respond adequately to every need of the person being cared for, knowing that they can count on the security of a reliable partner who knows your needs.
All of our products can be viewed and purchased in our online store.
The company also offers a wide range of informational resources on caregiving, including this web article of ours and a newsletter.
Farmoderm aims to be the trusted point of reference for all caregivers seeking support and practical solutions to meet the daily challenges of caregiving.
Farmoderm’s commitment to improving the lives of caregivers
Farmoderm is a company committed to improving the lives of caregivers through a wide range of innovative products designed to ease the task of caring for a dependent loved one.
Indeed, we believe that caregivers deserve the utmost support and respect.
For this reason, our company makes it a priority:
- Providing high quality products and services at affordable prices.
- Listen to and take in feedback from all our clients and, in particular, caregivers.
- Raise awareness of the vital role of caregivers, through our website our articles.
We want to be by your side to help you take the best care of the person being cared for, and we want to be an example of how a company can make a difference in society.
Valuing the caregiver
The importance of recognizing and valuing the work of caregivers
We would like to emphasize again how the work of caregivers is crucial to the well-being of dependent people and to the resilience of our society, both in solidarity and at the level of the social and health care system.
How can we ensure that their work is not invisible and undervalued?
We must first identify the specific reasons why such engagement is so important:
- It is a matter of justice: caregivers do essential work; it is not optional; we could not do without them except at unacceptable human and social costs.
- It is an investment in the future: caring for the dependent is a challenge that affects us all. Supporting caregivers means investing in our ability to care for the most fragile people, even for when we ourselves are.
- It is a way to improve everyone’s quality of life: a caregiver who feels supported and valued is able to provide better care for the person being cared for, with positive effects on the quality of life for both.
There are various forms of recognizing and valuing the work of caregivers:
- Formal recognition of the role: the caregiver is already recognized as a full-fledged social and professional figure, with specific rights and duties, but there is still much to be done culturally.
- Economic support: the caregiver requires stable and precise economic support, such as allowances or vouchers, up to stipends in line with commitment and regulations, to compensate for the time and energy devoted to care.
- Training and psychological support: access to training courses, as is already the case for many professions, and psychological support to acquire the necessary skills and to manage the emotional challenges of his or her role, is a point to be stimulated and enhanced.
- Work-life balance: the ability to balance caregiving with one’s work life, through time flexibility, leave and telecommuting, is a key element in ensuring the right quality of life and professional sustainability.
Recognizing and valuing the work of caregivers is an endeavor that requires the commitment of everyone: institutions, citizens and the world of work.
Useful resources for caregivers
Fortunately, there are several resources that can provide support and useful information.
Here are some websites and associations that can help:
- CARER – Family Caregiver Association: CARER – Family Caregiver Association.
- Family Caregiver Portal: Family Caregiver Portal.
- Ministry of Labor and Social Policy: Ministry of Labor and Social Policy
- National Institute of Social Security (INPS): National Institute of Social Security (INPS)
- Alzheimer’s Federation Italy: Alzheimer’s Federation Italy
- Portal “SuperAbile Inail”: Portal “SuperAbile Inail”
- Telefono Amico Italy: Telefono Amico Italy
In addition to these online resources, it is important to remember that caregivers can also find support at the local level. In fact, many cities and municipalities have listening centers, information desks, and caregiver support groups.
For information on these services, remember that you can contact the specific desk in your municipality of residence or the relevant ASL, or even territorial social services.
Together, one can face the difficult task of care with greater strength and serenity.