Who is the caregiver?

The Anglo-Saxon literature, this term refers to as "the one providing the care."

"informal caregiver" (also known as primary caregiver, may be his son, his spouse, more rarely, another family member or friend)
"formal caregiver (nurse or other professional).

The person in the family takes in the main task of care and assistance to the joint ill.

The time spent by caregivers to care can reach the equivalent of a working day, which means that in the most serious as a caregiver is not compatible with almost any job. Including surveillance activities \ surveillance is a long time that increases with the gradual progress of the disease.
The role of the family that takes care of, in Italy, is mainly done by women (73.8%), generally wives and daughters, and in severe cases, home to the sick at home (65%).
The caregivers are mostly of working age:

* The 30.95 was up to 45 years
* The 38.2% was between 46 and 60 years
* The 17.95 between 61 and 70 years
* 13% over 70 years

From the professional point of view 31.9% are retired, the housewife is 27.75, 20.65, the employee or teacher, craftsman or 5.75 and 4.45 dealer manager / trader, a total of paid workers that are 355 of the sample being examined. (data Censis 1999).