The stress associated with caring for chronically ill family members may result in stress for the caregiver. Home care providers i.e. spouses, children of elderly parents and parents themselves contribute a huge sum in the national economy. In most parts, the economic contribution or quantification of home care providers is not accounted for.

However, along with the unseen/unaccounted for economic contribution, the work toll and the loss of opportunity and the physical and mental drainout is also substantial. Sometimes to provide for the sickly and the ailing proves to be both a huge physical and mental strain. In the case of professional caregivers, it has been well researched and documented in last few decades that this mental strain is much higher than those providing care for family members. 

 

Care provided for family members- especially partners who are mentally challenged/with non-physical disorders, the degree of mental strain are high to the point of the caregivers themselves at risk of being psychologically broken due to the high demanding situations both of physical toll complicated with non-professional work environment (lack of institutional caregiving equipment – both in terms of work-safety equipment and care providing equipment), safety concerns and behavioral issue.

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The physical, emotional and financial consequences for the family caregiver can be overwhelming without some support, such as respite. Respite provides the much needed temporary break from the often exhausting challenges faced by the family caregiver. Respite is the service most often requested by family caregivers, yet it is in critically short supply, inaccessible, or unaffordable regardless of the age or disability of the individual needing assistance. While the focus has been on making sure families have the option of providing care at home, little attention has been paid to the needs of the family caregivers who make this possible.

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Without respite, not only can families suffer economically and emotionally, caregivers themselves may face serious health and social risks as a result of stress associated with continuous caregiving. Three fifths of family caregivers age 19-64 surveyed recently by the Commonwealth Fund reported fair or poor health, one or more chronic conditions, or a disability, compared with only one-third of non-caregivers.

In the United States today there are approximately 61.6 million people (referenced above) who are caring at home for family members including elderly parents, and spouses and children with disabilities and/or chronic illnesses. Without this home-care, most of these cared for loved ones would require permanent placement in institutions or health care facilities at great cost to society.

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https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Caregiver