Caring for the Caregiver: Why You Matter Too
Caregiving today looks nothing like it did 20 years ago. It’s more complex, more demanding, and more exhausting — and yet most caregivers still fly under the radar. Before the year wraps up, let’s talk about why caregivers need just as much support as the people they care for.
The Evolution of Caregiving
Caregiving has shifted from “helping out” to running a mini-health system at home.
A recent JAMA article (June 20, 2025) noted that unpaid family caregivers have grown from 18.2 million to 24.1 million over the last decade — and the level of responsibility has skyrocketed.
Caregivers are now:
Managing medications
Coordinating appointments
Handling chronic conditions
Serving as the voice between multiple providers
Navigating insurance, long-term care decisions, and emergencies
No surprise: caregivers are burning out faster than the systems that rely on them.
The Strains on Caregivers
Organizations like AARP and the Alzheimer’s Association have repeatedly highlighted the heavy toll caregiving takes:
Emotional and physical exhaustion
Financial strain, delayed retirement, reduced work hours
Higher rates of depression and anxiety
Increased medical issues due to chronic stress
Social isolation and loss of personal identity
Caregiving has become a full-time job with no onboarding and no days off. This strain is especially common for families managing long-distance caregiving, where coordination, communication, and crisis response all happen from miles away.
Why Your Care Matters
Here’s the truth most caregivers don’t hear:
Your health directly affects the quality of care you provide.
When caregivers are exhausted, unsupported, or stretched thin, care suffers.
When caregivers stay healthy, rested, and informed — everyone benefits.
This isn’t selfishness.
This is sustainability.
A Gift Caregivers Actually Need: Respite
If you know a caregiver, the most meaningful gift you can give them isn’t a candle or another mug — it’s time off. Many families don’t realize there are practical options for help with care for the elderly that can provide caregivers with much-needed breaks.
Consider offering to:
Sit with their loved one for an afternoon
Book a few hours of in-home care
Arrange meal delivery
Coordinate support from a distance if you live far away
Caregivers rarely ask for help, but they desperately need it. Even a small break can restore energy, patience, and hope.
Caregivers Need a Plan Too
Caregivers are the backbone of our healthcare system — and they deserve support, resources, and a plan of their own.
If you’re a caregiver who needs clarity, guidance, or a customized plan to make the load lighter, I can help.
✨ Stay confident. Stay informed. Stay Taylormade.