Caregiver Strain Index (CSI)

The Caregiver Strain Index (CSI) is a short screen for how much a family caregiver is struggling. It exists because the person doing the caring often goes unasked, and burnout tends to surface only after something breaks down.

Thirteen statements describe common stressors, and the caregiver answers yes or no to each. At least one item covers each of the major domains: financial, physical, psychological, social, and personal — things like disturbed sleep, changes to family routines, giving up personal plans, and loss of privacy. Each yes counts one point, for a total from 0 to 13, and a score of 7 or more indicates a high level of strain. It identifies families who may need a fuller conversation and follow-up support, not a diagnosis.

Licensing Notes: Copyright for the original CSI is held by the Gerontological Society of America, and reproductions in clinical resources carry a "reproduced by permission of the publisher" line.

Learn More: A revised version exists. The Modified Caregiver Strain Index (MCSI) replaces the yes/no format with a three-level response — 2 points for yes, 1 for sometimes, 0 for no, scored 0 to 26. It was created because long-term family caregivers were uncomfortable being forced into a yes-or-no answer.