Caregiver Support Strategies: Why Should We Care?

Informal caregivers are vital members of the comprehensive care team for hematopoietic cell transplant (HCT) patients. Without the identification and presence of caregivers, most if not all transplant centers would not be able to provide their services for patients. Caregivers of this patient population represent a unique entity with under-recognized challenges and long-term health and economic obstacles that require recognition, discussion, and support. In this chapter, we discuss the role of the HCT patients and caregivers; their health challenges that are compounded by this role, and both the social and economic debt that the patient and caregiver dyad experience. Furthermore, the chapter guides the options available for caregiver support.