A New Resource for Caregivers

By Doug Donaldson

Nearly 50 million people in the United States take care of someone who has a medical problem. That’s why the American Heart Association created a Web site to help those caregivers.

“The demands put on family members in a caregiving role are increasing, and we need to offer the resources to help them cope,” said Barry Jacobs, Psy.D., a clinical psychologist, family therapist, and author of the book The Emotional Survival Guide for Caregivers (The Guilford Press, 2006).

The site www.americanheart.org/Caregiver is packed with information to help caregivers take control of their own physical and emotional health. Journal pages, including sections titled “Refresh,” “Rejuvenate,” “Reach Out,” and “Replenish,” can be downloaded to track progress and reduce strain.