Caregiver nation: New tools to manage a family members health as well as your own

Free videos, podcasts, and guides offer training and sometimes solutions.

More than 40 million people in our country are caregivers for family members. The job often comes without warning or training and leaves little time for self-care. That puts caregivers at risk for a host of physical, mental, and emotional problems. "Stress is one of the biggest problems. But I also see caregivers who are struggling with declining health because they just don't have the time to take care of themselves, exercise, or go to the doctor," says Dr. Suzanne Salamon, associate chief of gerontology at Harvard-affiliated Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center.

Fortunately, there are all kinds of free educational opportunities designed to help family caregivers jump into their roles and better manage their own health.