Caregiver Burnout

A state of physical, emotional, and mental exhaustion that occurs when a caregiver does not get the support or respite they need, often resulting from the sustained demands of caring for a person with a chronic or progressive condition such as Alzheimer's disease. Symptoms include persistent fatigue, withdrawal from social activities, feelings of hopelessness, changes in appetite or sleep, and neglect of the caregiver's own health needs. AD/ADRD caregivers are at particularly high risk due to the intensity and duration of care demands, the unpredictability of behavioural symptoms, and limited access to formal support services. Preventing and addressing caregiver burnout is critical to sustaining long-term caregiving relationships and protecting the wellbeing of both caregiver and care recipient.