Elder Care | Research & References
Elder care encompasses the wide range of practices, supports, and interventions designed to assist older adults with physical, cognitive, social, and emotional needs. Increasingly, support for older adults is provided by family members and informal caregivers—often spouses or adult children—who help with complex health needs, daily functioning, and chronic conditions. Research has shown that caregiving for older adults can significantly impact caregivers’ mental health, physical wellbeing, quality of life, and social participation, particularly when the level of care required is high or when care recipients have cognitive impairment. Family caregiving is conceptualized in research as a form of chronic stress exposure, which can elevate caregiver burden and contribute to emotional distress. Successful support strategies often include structured interventions like psychoeducation, cognitive‑behavioral therapy (CBT), mindfulness‑based approaches, and multicomponent psychosocial programs tailored to caregiver and care‑recipient needs.
The studies and references below present a comprehensive overview of scientific findings on elder care and caregiving, summarizing evidence on caregiver impacts as well as effective strategies for support and intervention.
Psychological and Physical Impacts of Caregiving | Chronic Stress and Health Effects
Family caregiving for older adults is highly variable in its emotional and physical effects, largely driven by care intensity and the care recipient’s health needs. The chronic stress of caregiving is associated with adverse psychological and physical outcomes, including elevated caregiver burden and reduced mental wellbeing.
Schulz, R., Beach, S. R., Czaja, S. J., Martire, L. M., & Monin, J. K. (2020).Family caregiving for older adults.Annual Review of Psychology, 71, 635–659. https://doi.org/10.1146/annurev‑psych‑010419‑050754
Role of Policy and National Caregiver Context | Prevalence and Support Needs in the U.S.
In the United States alone, millions of individuals provide unpaid care to older adults with health or functional limitations, often with limited formal support. National policy reviews highlight the widespread need to recognize, support, and resource family caregivers to promote both caregiver and care‑recipient wellbeing.
National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine. (2016).Families caring for an aging America. Washington, DC: The National Academies Press. https://doi.org/10.17226/23606
Psychosocial Support and Interventions | Network Meta‑Analysis of Caregiver Interventions
A large systematic review and network meta‑analysis found that psychosocial interventions (e.g., mindfulness‑based interventions and CBT) significantly reduced caregiver burden, especially among caregivers of individuals with cognitive impairment. Mindfulness‑based interventions ranked highest overall, with CBT particularly effective in home‑based settings.
Chen, Y., Yi, S., Chen, R., & Zhang, Q. (2025).The efficacy of psychosocial interventions in relieving family caregiver burden in older adults with disabilities: A systematic review and network meta‑analysis.Age and Ageing, 54(6), afaf155. https://doi.org/10.1093/ageing/afaf155
Interventions Targeting Dementia Caregivers
Caregivers for older adults with dementia often experience high burden and reduced self‑efficacy. Evidence from systematic reviews suggests that online psychosocial interventions may modestly improve caregivers’ confidence in caregiving tasks (self‑efficacy), although they show limited effects on reducing overall caregiver burden.
Li, Q., Zhang, D., Quinn, É., Walsh, K., & Hynes, S. (2026).Online interventions for dementia caregiver burden and self‑efficacy: A systematic review and meta‑analysis.International Journal of Nursing Studies Advances. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ijnsa.2026.100490
Technology‑Based Support for Caregivers | Effectiveness of Technology Interventions
A systematic review and meta‑analysis of randomized controlled trials evaluated technology‑based interventions (e.g., internet or app‑based programs) designed to reduce caregiver burden. Overall, technology interventions showed potential to decrease caregiver burden, increase caregiver knowledge, control, and confidence, and aid in coping with care challenges, though further high‑quality research is needed.
Zhou, Y., Bai, Z., Wan, K., Qin, T., He, R., & Xie, C. (2024).Technology‑based interventions on burden of older adults’ informal caregivers: a systematic review and meta‑analysis of randomized controlled trials.BMC Geriatrics, 24, 398. https://doi.org/10.1186/s12877‑024‑05018‑w
Research & Resources
Chen, Y., Yi, S., Chen, R., & Zhang, Q. (2025). The efficacy of psychosocial interventions in relieving family caregiver burden in older adults with disabilities: A systematic review and network meta‑analysis.Age and Ageing, 54(6), afaf155. https://doi.org/10.1093/ageing/afaf155
National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine. (2016). Families caring for an aging America. Washington, DC: The National Academies Press. https://doi.org/10.17226/23606
Schulz, R., Beach, S. R., Czaja, S. J., Martire, L. M., & Monin, J. K. (2020). Family caregiving for older adults.Annual Review of Psychology, 71, 635–659. https://doi.org/10.1146/annurev‑psych‑010419‑050754
Li, Q., Zhang, D., Quinn, É., Walsh, K., & Hynes, S. (2026). Online interventions for dementia caregiver burden and self‑efficacy: A systematic review and meta‑analysis.International Journal of Nursing Studies Advances. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ijnsa.2026.100490
Zhou, Y., Bai, Z., Wan, K., Qin, T., He, R., & Xie, C. (2024). Technology‑based interventions on burden of older adults’ informal caregivers: a systematic review and meta‑analysis of randomized controlled trials.BMC Geriatrics, 24, 398. https://doi.org/10.1186/s12877‑024‑05018‑w