The study discussed in this article examined caregiver meaning. Study parti
cipants were individuals paid and supported by the South Carolina Departmen
t of Mental Health Homeshare program to provide care in their home for an i
ndividual with sever mental illness. A structured questionnaire and intervi
ews were used to develop categories and themes about caregiver meaning. Qua
ntitative and qualitative analyses yielded three categories of caregiver me
aning: other-directed-altruistic, self-directed-self-actualization, and exi
stential-purpose in life. Caregivers most often referred to altruistic them
es, with the most common one being "helping others." The next most common t
hemes were "home and family" and "making a difference." Caregiving difficul
ties also were categorized. Social work implications are discussed.