CRC Press

Family caregiving can be dened in many ways. Schulz and Martire (2004) describe caregiving as: … the provision of extraordinary care, exceeding the bounds of what is normative or usual in family relationships. Caregiving typically involves a significant expenditure of time, energy and money over potentially long periods of time; it involves tasks that may be unpleasant and uncomfortable and are psychologically stressful and physically exhausting (p. 240).