Finding the Right Caregiver Support and Resources

Finding the right caregiver support and resources is vital if you are caring for an older loved one. As a caregiver, you are surely aware that caring for a loved one can present challenges. This guide offers practical ideas for caring for yourself while caring for others, including programs, online support communities, and organizations that offer various types of assistance. Use these resources to explore support options and find the best possible care for yourself and your loved ones.

When caregivers prioritize their own physical and emotional well-being, they are better suited to serving the needs of their senior loved ones.

Although caring for an older loved one can be tremendously rewarding, it may also lead to physical exhaustion, emotional strain, and limited time to care for yourself. Many caregivers juggle multiple responsibilities with minimal resources. Taking small, consistent steps to care for yourself, however, can help prevent burnout and make your role more manageable.

Managing your emotions can help prevent burnout and compassion fatigue. 

• Acknowledge difficult feelings like guilt or anger without guilt or self-judgment.
• Talk regularly with trusted friends, family members, or a counselor.
• Join a caregiver support group to share experiences and advice.
• Practice deep breathing or mindfulness exercises when stressed.

Taking good care of your body helps maintain energy levels, strength, and overall health.

• Look for moments when you can take a brief movement break — stretch, walk, or do a few simple exercises when time allows.
• Prepare simple, nourishing meals for yourself and your loved one. Avoid skipping meals.
• Prioritize sleep when possible, even with short rest periods or naps.
• Stay hydrated by keeping water nearby throughout the day.
• Schedule regular medical checkups to monitor your health.

Taking good care of your mental health helps you stay focused, resilient, and emotionally stable.

• Set realistic expectations for yourself and let go of the idea of being perfect.
• Break large tasks into smaller, more manageable steps.
• Take a few minutes each day for quiet reflection, journaling, or meditation.
• Seek professional support when stress, anxiety, and/or depression become overwhelming.
• Be kind to yourself by regularly recognizing that you're doing the best you can.

Caring for an older family member often creates time constraints, financial pressures, and emotional demands. Although every caregiver's situation differs, the following tips offer practical steps to help you care for yourself while providing the best experience for your loved one.

Recognizing your emotions — even negative feelings — can help reduce stress and prevent burnout.

Caregiving often brings emotional overload. Love, frustration, sadness, guilt, and exhaustion can all occur on an average day. These emotions don't mean you're failing as a caregiver. Notice and accept how you feel to make it easier to cope and respond appropriately to your loved one.

Simple ways to reflect include:

• Pausing and naming what you're feeling when stressed
• Writing down your thoughts or emotions in a journal
• Reminding yourself that difficult feelings are natural and not a personal weakness

Maintaining an emotional connection with your loved one helps both of you build trust and improve your caregiving relationship.

Beyond managing the many details of caregiving, carve out time for brief moments of listening, conversation, or shared activities to help your loved one feel seen and supported. Doing so can ease stress for both of you and improve your mood, without requiring extra time or money.

Simple ways to connect include:

• Sitting together and talking about common memories, shared interests, or daily events
• Listening without rushing to correct
• Sharing a favorite activity, such as reading from a book, singing songs together, or taking a short walk

You can't do it alone. Getting help can ease stress and make caregiving more manageable.

Support may come from family or friends, community organizations, and online groups. Whatever your situation, sharing the load can help prevent burnout and create space for you to recharge.

Simple ways to find support include:

• Asking relatives and friends to help with running errands, cooking meals, or taking your loved one to an appointment
• Joining a caregiver support group, in person or online (see below for some options)
• Exploring local respite care or community resources

Prioritizing personal care allows you to continue caring for your loved one more effectively.

When caregiving is a full-time focus, it's easy to put your own well-being on the back burner. Over time, however, this can lead to challenges for you and your loved one. Making space for your own needs — even in small ways, as time allows — helps protect your energy and emotional health.

Simple ways to prioritize yourself include:

• Taking short breaks to rest, stretch, or breathe deeply
• Keeping on top of your own medical appointments and needs
• Doing one small activity each week that brings you joy

Caring for a loved one with a form of dementia, such as Alzheimer's disease, takes patience, understanding, and compassion. You may need to adapt routines and the home environment as the disease progresses. Sundowning, which is increased restlessness or agitation in the late afternoon and evening, is common. As the disease progresses, care needs are likely to change, and a caregiver can be easily overwhelmed. Late-stage dementia may require all the resources and skills a caregiver has to manage their family member's needs and wishes in a compassionate, safe manner.

In some cases, a family caregiver may be eligible for payments while caring for a loved one. Some Medicaid programs allow seniors to "self-direct" their care and hire a family member as a paid caregiver. Look for programs like Community First Choice or HCBS waivers. Veterans' benefits, such as Veteran Directed Care or Aid & Attendance or Housebound benefits, can also provide funding for caregivers. If your loved one has long-term care insurance, it may offer payments that allow you to get paid to take care of a family member.

Click on your state below to explore local caregiver resources.

You're never alone when caring for an older adult. Various resources can connect you to others who understand. Consider the following options for caregiver support groups.

• Caregiver Support Community: This Facebook group provides a safe place to share stories, ask questions, and address concerns.
• The Caregiver Space: Caregivers can share their experiences and offer support through this private social network.
• Young Caregivers Community: This Facebook subgroup of The Caregiver Space offers a community for people under the age of 35 who care for a loved one.
• AgingCare Caregiver Forum: This online forum allows caregivers to share questions, advice, and coping strategies.
• AARP Online Community Caregiving Forum: AARP's forum lets caregivers connect with experts and peers for advice and sympathy.
• Memory People: This Facebook group provides a space for people caring for senior adults with Alzheimer's or other forms of dementia.
• Well Spouse Association: WSA provides support for spouses and partners of those who have chronic illnesses and disabilities.
• DailyStrength Caregivers Support Group: This board offers a safe and supportive place for caregivers to connect with each other. 
• Smart Patients Caregivers Community: Senior adults and those with chronic illnesses and disabilities can join this community to connect with like-minded people. Registration is required.
• American Stroke Association Caregivers: ASA provides resources and support for caregivers of stroke survivors.  
• Alzheimer's Association ALZConnected: This online community allows anyone affected by Alzheimer's and other dementias to connect with caregivers and other individuals.
• National Alliance on Mental Illness Family Support Group: NAMI offers peer-led support group sessions for family members and caregivers of those living with mental illness.

Here are some places where family caregivers can get information, support, and direct services:

As a caregiver, you're on the front lines of helping your loved one stay happy, healthy, and safe — but caring for yourself is also important. Fortunately, you can rely on many resources for support. Your role may vary depending on their needs, whether they live independently, receive support in assisted living or memory care, require medical supervision in a nursing home, or rely on care at home. 

 

If they live at home — or in your home — you may provide much of their care. Knowing what's available and where to look for it can help you make the right decisions to support the well-being of your whole family. Caring.com's caregiver resource hub has more tools, guides, and support services.