As the population ages and trends in patient care for chronic health conditions change, more and more individuals are serving as caregivers for a friend or family member. Caregivers often experience a unique set of challenges, such as financial difficulties due to medical bills, shifts in family relationships, and various psychological burdens. With all of these pressures, paying special attention to caregivers’ well-being is of fundamental importance. The Family Institute at Northwestern University’s Gustavo Medrano, PhD, is available to comment on caring for the caregiver. “Research shows that approximately 33%-50% of family caregivers experience significant psychological distress, including higher rates of mental health problems than the general population,” explains Dr. Medrano.
Many caregivers experience social isolation or withdrawal, which demands a heightened sense of awareness surrounding self-care. “Given the stress of family caregiving," says Dr. Medrano, "garnering and managing social support may be the most important ways caregivers can care for themselves.”
Dr. Medrano is a licensed clinical psychologist and member of the Dialectical Behavior Therapy and Couples Consultation groups at The Family Institute. He received his PhD from the University of Wisconsin- Milwaukee. He specializes in the care of depression and mood disorders, stress management, and coping with chronic health conditions and disabilities. To speak to Dr. Medrano about caring for the caregiver, or to learn more about The Family Institute, please contact Cyndi Schu, Director of Public Relations, at [email protected] or 312-609-5300, ext. 483.
ABOUT THE FAMILY INSTITUTE AT NORTHWESTERN UNIVERSITY – For over 45 years, The Family Institute at Northwestern University (www.family-institute.org) has been committed to strengthening and healing families and individuals from all walks of life through clinical service, education and research. An affiliate of Northwestern University, The Family Institute is a unique, innovative not-for-profit organization, governed by its own independent Board of Directors and responsible for its own funding. The Institute offers a wide range of high quality mental health counseling through our staff practice and our sliding-fee scale Bette D. Harris Family and Child Clinic, where we are committed to serving at-risk, under-resourced communities. The Family Institute also operates two nationally-renowned graduate programs in marriage and family therapy and counseling psychology in affiliation with Northwestern University, and conducts cutting-edge research projects that lead to a better understanding and treatment of mental health issues.
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