A loved one who has mental illness also needs a caregiver. For this kind of condition, it is important that the caregiver be taught how to deal with the person. Certainly, a lot more patience and understanding are needed to care for a mentally-ill person. The caregiver has to be knowledgeable of the mental illness of the characteristics of the person to be cared for. They need to empathize with the person and show that they are capable of handling their unique needs.