According to the Merriam-Webster dictionary, the word caretaker is typically defined as one that takes care of the house or land for an owner who may not be present to do so.2 The word may also apply to those who act as custodians, janitors, keepers, and watchmen. Caretakers are more commonly responsible for the physical possessions of others, and the day-to-day work may be intensely physical. However, the term can also refer to those who care for others, but without the clearly defined boundaries that are the hallmark of empathetic caregiving. A caretaker still provides a service for others but may feel exhausted and frustrated because that service is not given from a place of love or empathy. They may overextend themselves, because they may not trust their charge’s ability to care for themselves, which can lead to feelings of self-righteousness and resentment. A caretaker may have a sense of superiority when it comes to the person in their care, and may express that they know what’s best. This mindset may be due to the person providing the care or the care recipient or a combination of the two. An unhealthy, co-dependent relationship between a caretaker and care recipient can cause each member to suffer.