Harvard Health Blog

The (not-so-hidden) costs of caregiving

POSTED June 30, 2016, 9:31 AM
Leo Newhouse, LICSW, Contributor

Family caregiving is a huge topic nowadays. With over 75 million “baby boomers” poised to become the largest generation in American history to require such caregiving, how can it not be? Already, family members provide $642 billion worth of unpaid care for our spouses, parents, and relatives each year. But what is the price we pay in terms of our personal well-being, physical and otherwise?

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Get your copy of Caregiver’s Handbook

Close to 49 million informal or family caregivers offer assistance of all sorts to adults in America. Their efforts are vital to the lives of people struggling with illness, disability, or the changes that often accompany aging. This report will assist you in meeting the needs of the person you care for while attending to your own. It includes financial, legal, and medical information that’s vital to caregivers, as well as a special section devoted to caring for yourself as you navigate caregiving challenges.

The times, they are a-changin’ (and bringing new syndromes)

POSTED July 01, 2016, 9:30 AM
Robert H. Shmerling, MD, Faculty Editor, Harvard Health Publications

Computer vision syndrome is the newest technology-related threat to public health. According to a recent report, up to 70 million people worldwide are at risk. This is a condition increasingly recognized among people working long hours on a computer who complain of eye problems.

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