REFLECTIONS ON BURNOUT AND SELF-CARE MANAGEMENT IN SOCIAL WORK

Abstract

Working with people with AIDS (PWAs) invariably requires that caregivers provide optimalcare both to PWAs with serious illness and functional impairment, and to themselves.Although this work is extremely rewarding, the enormity of the stress and strain it places oncaregivers should not be under-estimated. While it is tacitly assumed that family and friendswill provide care for the PWA, the caregiver is expected to possess an exceptional capacity forcaring, despite the multifarious problems associated with this.