SY13       Title: Caregivers in Distress: Your Other Patient Date: Wednesday, June 18, 2008 Time: 01:45 PM - 03:15 PM Type: SYMP-EDUCATIONAL Level: - Track: - Sponsor(s): Evercare Speaker(s): Patricia Kappas-Larson Over 44 million Americans provide care for an adult family member or friend and a significant number of them find themselves in a downward spiral of health. These caregivers’ health situation is more than a problem for themselves as fully half say their decline has also affected their ability to provide care. This means that the potential burden on the health care system will be remarkable with both the care recipient and the caregiver eventually accessing the most costly segment of care, the hospital or the longterm care settings. Care providers are well positioned to evaluate the caregivers, identify those that are risk for decline or experiencing it  and to intervene as a health coach and advocate. This session will explore tools for early identification of decline as well as discuss feasible intervention strategies. Objectives: Discuss the emerging health care crisis driven by caregiver burdens.   Discuss methods for assessing the risk status of caregivers.   Present intervention options and understand their impact.