Caregiver exhaustion: caring for the hidden patients.

Family caregivers, the backbone of the health care system, are frequently themselves the hidden patients. Their commitment to care for frail older relatives may lead to exhaustion, with negative consequences for themselves and their loved ones. In this study of 245 family caregivers, 56.4% of caregiver exhaustion was predicted by three factors: lack of personal time, employed in a paid job outside the home, and frequent behavioral problems in the care recipient. Advanced practice nurses must recognize the needs and limitations of these hidden patients and advocate on their behalf in the health care system.