There comes a day or time when the phone rings and your mind simply freezes. A loved one is on the line asking for help. Not everyone feels comfortable with a stranger in their care. Your first thought may be to immediately step in because it may be bothersome knowing someone special is lacking the support they need.

Caring for a family member or friend can feel rewarding. However, there are a few things to consider before caregiving a loved one. Taking on a role like this typically requires great sacrifice, hard work, and strong dedication to do so.

What is Caregiving?

According to the Office of the Assistant Secretary for Health (OASH), a caregiver can be defined as an individual who cares for someone who is facing challenges with old age, an injury, disability, or illness.

For example, you may consider caregiving your elderly parents or grandparents who require assistance. Perhaps a distant family member with autism spectrum disorder (ASD), intellectual disability (ID), or Down syndrome requires a close companion for emotional support. Maybe a kind friend or neighbor is experiencing challenges with pancreatic disease and needs support to maintain a greater sense of normalcy.

Whoever this special person may be, caregiving is a big responsibility. It often requires deep patience, compassion, empathy, ongoing effort, and acceptance, to deliver the best quality of care possible. 

What Does Caregiving Involve?

As a caregiver, you may benefit from researching a loved one’s condition to gain a better understanding of their impairments. Your culture, educational background, and socioeconomic status have an impact on the level of your care. The type and severity of a loved one’s condition also determine your required tasks. For example, common caregiving responsibilities may consist of: 

• Shopping for groceries, hygiene products, and other necessities
• Washing, folding, and putting away laundry
• Handling sanitary needs such as bathing, incontinence issues, or oral health
• Completing daily chores
• Taking care of home maintenance issues
• Feeding or prepping meals
• Paying the bills
• Managing finances
• Taking your loved one to and from doctor appointments, emergency settings, or fun events to decompress 
• Dispensing medications or handling medical devices

Financial Assistance for Caregiving

Research highlights that depending on the circumstances paid caregiving can be helpful. Some government programs compensate caregivers who are caring for a loved one with a severe condition. This may be done to help individuals meet their loved one’s daily responsibilities. Depending on your insurance, you may be eligible to become a paid caregiver. To get qualified, contact an insurance agent and request a written confirmation of benefits.

Depending on your state, some family leave programs will pay you to care for a family member. However, the amount paid, the time you take off, and eligibility requirements may vary per state. If you find your state does not approve a paid family leave program, it may be wise to consider an Area Agency on Aging (AAA). An AAA program may send a referral for daycare programs, counseling services, or meal deliveries for additional assistance.

What is Caregiver Burnout?

The act of caregiving can feel gratifying but also bring on increased distress if you overextend yourself. If you take on a caregiving role you will most likely be on call a majority of the time. This can leave you with less time to dedicate to your personal needs.

Based on the aforementioned OASH study, caregivers have reported higher levels of stress than those who do not take on a caregiving role. Caregiver stress often results from consistent physical or emotional strain. If symptoms are left unaddressed, caregiver stress is commonly linked with: 

• Anxiety and depression
• Poor immune system
• Increased risk for chronic diseases
• Memory problems
• Obesity

The Importance of Practicing Self-Care When Caring For a Loved One

According to the National Institute of Aging (NIA), a healthy you is the best gift you can give anyone. Therefore, caregiving requires adjustments for each individual involved. To prevent caregiver stress, it is essential to engage in daily self-care practices. Self-care strategies may consist of eating nutritious foods, getting an adequate amount of sleep, and taking time for personal hobbies.

Caregiving can provide a sense of fulfillment but if you stretch yourself too thin, you may put your health at risk, appear less empathetic, and unintentionally make your loved one feel like a burden. Common warning signs of caregiver stress include: 

• Feeling anxious or exhausted
• Becoming easily irritated or angered
• Losing interest in enjoyable activities
• Skipping personal care
• Engaging in substance use 

The Benefits That Can Come From Caregiving a Loved One

If you feel you are capable of balancing your personal life with self-care to manage a caregiving role, caring for a loved one may be right for you. Caregiving a loved one can give you a greater sense of purpose and provide peace of mind knowing your loved one is well taken care of. Additional benefits that can come from caregiving include: 

• Personal growth
• A chance to pay it forward
• Strengthened bond with a family member or friend
• Access to Social Security benefits
• Cost-effectiveness

Thinking Carefully Before Making a Decision

Now that you have gathered the pros and cons and understand a bit more about what caregiving involves, before making your decision it can be helpful to consider a few more things. Consider your relationship status with your loved one and your comfort level managing their daily needs. Additional things to consider before caregiving a close family member or friend may include your: 

• Mental health
• Physical health
• Career
• Finances
• Family unit
• Pet responsibilities 
• Social support
• Caregiving skills
• Commute
• Outside relationships