Caregiver Interventions in Geriatric Psychiatry

Caring for patients with major neurocognitive disorders, other neuropsychiatric disorders, or functional impairments can lead to caregiver burnout, resulting in premature nursing home placement of the patient and increased risk for physical health problems and mortality in the caregiver. This chapter discusses risk factors and management strategies to help prevent early nursing home placement due to caregiver burnout, to prevent deterioration of caregiver health related to the burden of caregiving, and to reduce adverse health outcomes for patients. This chapter’s goal is to educate clinicians on how to reduce risk of caregiver burnout and to preserve a rich and meaningful experience of the caregiver–patient relationship.