Incorporate into practice a screening tool that can be used to assess caregiver level of strain.
 
Stress and burden are key components of the profile psychological distress experience by caregivers, although they are not diagnostic labels in and of themselves. Among the scales available: 
 
1. Modified Caregiver Strain Index. This can be clinician administered or self-administered by caregiver. It looks at financial, physical, psychological and social health.
 
2. Caregiver Burden Scale (Zarit). This is a 22-item Likert scale. It could be administered by the clinician or given to the caregiver to complete. It is commonly used with caregivers managing a loved one with dementia.
 
Related links: View the Modified Caregiver Strain Index at http://bit.ly/2jzy2Nc and the Caregiver Burden Scale at http://bit.ly/2jxiV7k.