---
title: "What Is Family caregiver? Home Care Glossary | HomeCare.com"
description: "A family caregiver is a relative, partner, friend, or neighbor who gives unpaid help to someone with an illness, disability, or age-related needs. They may..."
url: https://homecare.preview.multisites.ai/glossary/family-caregiver/
publisher: HomeCare.com
phone: 800-974-3458
start: https://care.homecare.com/?source=homecare.com
---

Caregivers and credentials

# Family caregiver

A family caregiver is a relative, partner, friend, or neighbor who gives unpaid help to someone with an illness, disability, or age-related needs. They may help with personal care, meals, rides, money, and medical tasks. The National Family Caregiver Support Program funds services for many of them.

## Why it matters for your family

Most care in the United States comes from family. The work can include hands-on help, appointments, bills, and daily worry. It often grows over time. Caregivers need support too. Local services may include respite, training, counseling, and support groups, through the Area Agency on Aging. A common mistake is trying to do everything alone until health suffers. Paid home care can share the work, such as covering nights, bathing, or a few hours each week. Talk to your own doctor, and keep a plan for backup if you get sick.

Source: [acl.gov](https://acl.gov/programs/support-caregivers/national-family-caregiver-support-program)

[Read more: Family resources](https://homecare.preview.multisites.ai/family-resources/)

## Related terms

-   [**Caregiver burnout**Caregiver burnout is a state of physical, emotional, and mental exhaustion that can come from long-term caregiving stress.](https://homecare.preview.multisites.ai/glossary/caregiver-burnout/)
-   [**Respite care**Respite care is short-term care that gives a family caregiver a break.](https://homecare.preview.multisites.ai/glossary/respite-care/)
-   [**Area Agency on Aging (AAA)**An Area Agency on Aging is a public or private nonprofit agency that a state designates to meet the needs of older adults in a local area.](https://homecare.preview.multisites.ai/glossary/area-agency-on-aging/)
-   [**Caregiver stress**Caregiver stress is the physical and emotional strain that comes from caring for another person over time.](https://homecare.preview.multisites.ai/glossary/caregiver-stress/)
-   [**Home care**Home care is non-medical help for people who live at home, such as bathing, dressing, meals, housekeeping, errands, and company.](https://homecare.preview.multisites.ai/glossary/home-care/)
-   [**Caregiver training**Caregiver training is instruction that teaches paid or family caregivers how to give safe, respectful care.](https://homecare.preview.multisites.ai/glossary/caregiver-training/)

[All glossary terms](https://homecare.preview.multisites.ai/glossary/)

## Talk to a care advisor today.

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[Call a care advisor](tel:+18009743458)[Find a caregiver online](https://care.homecare.com/?source=homecare.com)

![A caregiver bringing a meal to an older man at home](https://homecare.preview.multisites.ai/_astro/caregiver.CIGFcZAB_PlrDw.webp)