Voluntary Caregiver

Voluntary caregiver is the modern expression for an unpaid spouse, relative, friend or neighbor of a disabled person or child who helps with quotidian activities and assists those who cannot independently care for themselves. Although the word "caregiver" also refers to professional service providers, the terminology "voluntary caregiver" is widely used to denote individuals other than parents whose aid is not normally compensated for caregiver employment.

Caregiver training is occasionally offered by professional caregiver agencies to teach voluntary caregivers methods, caregiver relief and caregiver support. The internet is an increasingly popular means of gathering caregiver information and inserting oneself into the growing caregiver network. According to the National Family Caregivers Association, "more than 50 million people provide care for a chronically ill, disabled or aged family member or friend during any given year." A large portion of these caregivers are voluntary caregivers.