Caregiving as a Risk Factor for Mortality: The Caregiver Health Effects Study

Caregivers who experience mental and emotional strain have a higher risk of death than those who do not. Researchers compared death rates among 392 caregivers between the ages of 66 to 96 and 427 similar people who were not caregivers. Caregivers who reported mental and emotional strain from caregiving were 63% more likely to die than non-caregivers. Caregivers who did not experience strain from their caregiving actiivities had death rates similar to non-caregivers.