Caregiving Strategies

Learn to cope by building resilience and finding support.

When we find ourselves facing serious health issues, we naturally turn to those closest to us for help, and when called on to help another, we generally respond. Caregiving, after all, is a normal, human act of compassion and love.

But caring for someone else can also be a rollercoaster of challenges to overcome and all the stress and worry that comes with it.

Caregivers often start their journey with a strong sense of commitment, driven by their ties of family or friendship with the person they care for. But over time they can be overwhelmed by emotional stress, physical fatigue, lack of downtime, and even financial burdens. Burnout is a common problem for family health caregivers.

We can learn to cope with the responsibilities of caregiving by building resilience and finding support. This can make the difference between burnout and balance.

Building Resilience as a Caregiver

Resilience is the ability to bounce back from challenges and stay steady through difficult times, and it’s something that caregivers can develop over time. Here are a few ways caregivers can strengthen their resilience:

To care for others, you need to care for yourself.

• Prioritize Self-Care: It’s easy to put personal needs last when caring for someone else. On the other hand, it’s hard to care for others when you’re exhausted and discouraged. To care for others, you need to care for yourself. Stay healthy and well-rested. Simple acts of self-care — like taking short breaks, eating well, and getting enough rest — can have a big impact on your emotional strength.

• Practice Compassion for Yourself: Caregiving comes with inevitable mistakes and hard choices. Be kind to yourself, especially on tough days. When you remove the weight of self-criticism, your challenges will feel more manageable.

• Focus on What You Can Control: There’s so much in caregiving that’s unpredictable. Focus on manageable aspects, like setting daily routines or communicating with your support team. You can feel more grounded and less overwhelmed.

Ask For and Accept Support

Support from others is essential, but caregivers may find it a challenge to reach out, feeling that asking for help is a burden to others. But if you ask, you may find others are more willing to help than you think.

Here’s how you can start building a solid support network:

• Enlist Your Close Friends and Family: Don’t be afraid to tell those close to you about your challenges. They may want to help but don’t know how. Ask for help with a specific task, like transportation to an appointment, or at times when you could really use an extra hand or just an afternoon off.

• Join a Support Group: Connecting with others in a similar caregiving role can be immensely validating. Either in person or online, support groups allow caregivers to share experiences and advice, or just feel seen and understood.

• Consider Professional Help: Sometimes, caregiving requires professional support, whether it’s respite care to give you a break, a therapist to talk through feelings, or a home health aide for specialized tasks. Accepting professional help can bring peace of mind and give caregivers the relief they need to recharge.

Coping with Complex Emotions

Caregiving stirs up a variety of emotions, which can sometimes feel confusing or even contradictory. Common feelings like love, guilt, grief, and frustration can come and go in waves. Here are some ways caregivers can cope:

• Acknowledge and Name Your Emotions: Naming feelings—such as “I feel frustrated” or “I feel sad”—can help caregivers understand and process them. It’s normal to have mixed emotions; recognizing them helps reduce guilt and makes them easier to manage.

• Create Space for Joy: Caregiving is often seen as purely challenging, but there are moments of joy, humor, and closeness that can lift the heart. Taking time to notice and appreciate these moments can bring a renewed sense of purpose and balance.

• Reflect and Let Go of Perfectionism: Caregivers often feel pressure to do everything “right,” but this isn’t realistic. Allowing room for mistakes, accepting that no one is perfect, and letting go of the “shoulds” can reduce unnecessary stress and lead to greater self-compassion.

Encouragement to Seek Help and Keep Going

Caregivers give so much of themselves, often without expecting anything in return, but support isn’t something to shy away from—it’s something to embrace. Seeking help is a sign of strength, and building a support network allows caregivers to keep giving the best of themselves while preserving their own well-being. Remember, resilience isn’t about pushing through alone; it’s about knowing when to lean on others, take a breath, and care for yourself, too.

Resources and Support

Here are some helpful resources for learning more about resilience, support, and caregiving strategies:

1. Online Resources and Organizations

• Family Caregiver Alliance: Offers a comprehensive library of articles, webinars, and guides on caregiver resilience, self-care, and building support networks. They also provide access to local resources and caregiver support groups. https://www.caregiver.org

• Alzheimer’s Association: For caregivers dealing with dementia-related conditions, this site provides resources on emotional support, navigating challenging behaviors, and creating a caregiving support team. They also offer a 24/7 helpline. https://www.alz.org

• CancerCare: For caregivers of cancer patients, this organization provides counseling, support groups, and online resources on managing stress, building resilience, and practical caregiving support.
  https://www.cancercare.org

• Well Spouse Association: A support community specifically for people caring for spouses with chronic illnesses or disabilities. They offer peer support, educational materials, and local support groups.
  https://wellspouse.org

2. Books for Caregiver Support and Resilience

• The Caregiver’s Companion by Carolyn A. Brent: A guide for caregivers that includes practical advice, self-care strategies, and emotional support insights.

• When Caregiving Calls: Guidance as You Care for a Parent, Spouse, or Aging Relative by Aaron Blight: This book offers advice on handling the emotional journey of caregiving and how to build a supportive caregiving experience.

• AARP’s Juggling Life, Work, and Caregiving by Amy Goyer: This book provides practical strategies for balancing caregiving with work and personal life while building resilience.

3. Online Communities and Forums

• AgingCare: An active online forum where caregivers share experiences, ask questions, and offer support. It’s a place to find people in similar situations and learn from their insights.
  https://www.agingcare.com

• Reddit Caregiving Community (r/Caregivers): An open forum where caregivers discuss challenges, share advice, and support each other.
  Reddit’s community is active, with a wide range of topics covered.

4. Apps for Organizing and Finding Support

• Lotsa Helping Hands: A caregiving coordination app that helps you organize tasks and enlist support from friends and family.

• CaringBridge: A platform that lets caregivers update friends and family about a loved one’s care, request help, and receive encouragement.

These resources can provide knowledge, support, and practical strategies to help you in your caregiving. By exploring them, you may find tools to manage the challenges, build resilience, form a support team, and connect with others who understand.

If you’re a caregiver, your efforts make a difference. Remember that caring for yourself, you become a better caregiver, for both you and your loved one. Whether you ask for support from those close to you, or find comfort in a support group, or practice self-compassion, every step you take toward resilience gets you closer to finding that healthy balance that will support you in your journey.