There is no doubt that being a carer can impact on their own health. Health risks from worry, lack of sleep, depression and stress often comes with being a carer.
Admission of the family member into residential care or hospital could be an indication of a breakdown in the caring relationship, because a carer may no longer be able to care due to physical or mental ill health.
In the British Medical Journal (2004) randomised controlled trial on training carers of stroke patients concluded that there were benefits to involving carers as partners in care.
The benefits included improving re-ablement of patients, reduced depression in stroke patients and reduced need for physiotherapy with achievement of independence at an earlier stage which, in turn, reduced carer burden, improved mood and the quality of life for carers and patients.