Family caregiving: Guidance for getting started
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Family caregiving can take many different forms, but it generally involves a family member providing informal, unpaid care for a loved one. This could involve caring for an older family member, a child with disabilities, or even a family friend with a disability.
This type of family caregiving is prevalent, with 43.5 million caregivers having provided unpaid care to an adult or child in the last 12 months.1
The time commitment is also significant, with 31.3% of caregivers dedicating 20 or more hours per week to providing care.2 Caregiving can require sacrifices, but if you approach it with the right attitude, information, and resources, you may also find a great sense of fulfillment in your new role as a family caregiver.
Start by learning more about caregiving
What is family caregiving? It can mean many things but generally involves providing ongoing assistance to a loved one with social and/or health needs, which may include some or all of the following:
Administering medications
Helping with household chores or cooking
Bathing and dressing
Shopping
Providing transportation to health care services and appointments
Providing emotional support
Unfortunately, assisting a loved one can often negatively impact the caregiver’s physical health and mental health, career progression, and finances. This is why it’s so important for caregivers to educate themselves, connect with the community, and find resources to help support caregivers.
Connect with others for help
As a caregiver, you may feel like you’re on your own. But nothing could be farther from the truth: there are more than 53 million US adults who care for a spouse, special-needs child, or elderly relative on a regular basis.3 With so many people in a similar situation, there are a lot of opportunities to connect with fellow caregivers — and professional resources for caregivers — that can help.
Join caregiver support groups
These organizations provide support and community for caregivers around the country:
The Family Caregiver Alliance has several digital support groups:
Caregiver Online Support Group
LGBTQ+ Community Support
LGBTQ Caregiver Support Group
Young Adult Caregivers Support Group
You can also search for local caregiver support groups in your area.
Seek support from family and friends
As a caregiver, asking for help can feel overwhelming. However, your friends and family may be more willing to help than you realize. In many cases, you just have to ask. But be specific. Rather than making a general request for help from someone, think about a specific need or task they can take over. For example, ask a relative if they can help with transportation to health care providers or take over care one evening a week so you can have a break
And remember, getting "help" from others doesn't necessarily mean asking for help directly. Simply meeting up with a friend to share a meal and chat can be hugely energizing and give you an opportunity to process your thoughts and feelings with someone you trust. You might not have much time in your busy schedule, but prioritizing time with friends and family is crucial for your mental health and happiness.
Utilize professional mental health support
Being a caregiver can take a toll on your mental health, with 40% to 70% of family caregivers have clinically significant symptoms of depression.4 That’s why getting support from mental health professionals can be crucial. Here are some ideas to help:
The National Institute of Mental Health maintains a detailed list of resources for mental health
Psychology Today maintains a widely used list of qualified mental health therapists
Online mental health counseling options that let you see a therapist remotely may provide a more accessible option that works around your busy schedule
Local city, county and state governments may have mental health resources to utilize
Set boundaries for yourself
In order to take care of your loved one, you have to take care of yourself. So, it's crucial to set boundaries to protect your own well-being. What does that mean? Setting boundaries will entail different things depending on your situation, but here are some examples:
Arranging for alternative care 1-2 days a week so you always have time off
Blocking off hours where you will be unavailable each day
Communicating your own needs to the individual you’re caring for
Asking for financial support from the individual you’re caring for
Planning a vacation to take an extended break from caregiving
Making a plan for future care if the individual’s health is declining
Determining what services you’re unable or unwilling to provide
More resources for caregivers
Fortunately, there are many more resources specifically for caregivers and those they care for. Caregiver.org is an excellent directory of state-level caregiver resources This platform allows you to sort by state to connect with local resources in your area.
AARP also maintains resource guides for specialized care relating to specific conditions. For example, there are resources for:
And many more
Finally, the Family Caregiver Alliance at Caregiver.org is an excellent resource hub for everything related to providing care and taking care of yourself.
Financial support for caregivers
Providing care for someone else can be a substantial financial burden. For many family caregivers, assisting family members becomes a full-time job—and likely unpaid. In addition to indirect costs, like reduced earnings from having fewer hours to work, there may also be direct costs, like buying supplies, medications, or groceries.
Remember that standard health insurance and even Medicare do not typically provide any benefits for family caregiving. However, you should try to find and utilize any financial caregiver support you or your loved one may qualify for. Here's where to start.
Disability income insurance
Does the person you’re caring for have disability income insurance? If they became disabled while covered by the policy, they may be entitled to financial assistance. Ask if they had coverage purchased individually or through work: Many employers offer these policies, so it’s worth checking to see if they may have had it. Similarly, if the individual has an accelerated death benefit on their life insurance policy, this may provide benefits as well.
Veteran’s services
If the person you’re caring for served in the armed forces, they may be eligible for certain benefits through the Veterans Affairs (VA) Caregiver Support Program, including:
Veteran Directed Home and Community-Based Services
Veterans Pension
Aid and Attendance benefit
Medicaid
People who have a qualifying chronic condition or disability and otherwise qualify for Medicaid may be able to receive financial assistance to pay for a caregiver. This often requires "self-directing" Medicaid benefits. Self-direction is a model of care that helps people maintain their independence at home and decide how, when, and from whom their services and supports will be delivered. Applied Self-Direction has a directory of programs in each state.
State-level Home & Community-Based Services waivers (HCBS)
Medicaid sponsors state-level programs known as Home & Community-Based Services (HCBS). This program is designed to support individuals who opt to receive care at home rather than in an institutional setting (like an assisted living facility). There are specific requirements that must be met, and not all states offer this program. Learn more at Medicaid.gov.
Structured Family Caregiving
In some states, family caregivers can receive financial compensation from Medicare/Medicaid via the Structured Family Caregiving program. This program requires that care recipients be eligible for Medicaid, require 24-hour care, and have one or more daily personal care services that require a caregiver. Careforth has more information on this program.
Financial support from family
The physical responsibility of caregiving often falls on a single family member. If you’re that person, remember that other family members may still be able to share the burden of providing care — by helping out financially. Similar to asking for physical care assistance, when you ask for financial help, consider focusing on a specific expense, such as groceries or out-of-pocket medical costs.
State-level Paid Family Leave programs
While there is no federal-level or national mandate for paid leave, a growing number of states have paid family leave programs in place to help employees still receive paychecks while temporarily caring for family members.
Paid leave benefits are often used for the birth of a new child, but many states will provide benefits for a family member who has to provide care for older adults or living support to ill or disabled family members.
Paid leave from your employer
While there’s a good chance that you can get job-protected leave to provide care for an immediate family member, some employers may also offer paid leave for providing such care. In fact, 2023 data from the Bureau of Labor Statistics shows that 27% of private industry employees had access to paid leave from their employers. Eligibility and details vary, so contact your Human Resources (HR) department or speak to a supervisor to find out what benefits may be available to you.
Guardian can help
For more insights and caregiving resources, including access to help webinars, see our Caregiving Support page. Or, learn more about how disability insurance can help protect family finances when illness or injury keeps someone from working.
Frequently asked questions about family caregiving
Family caregiving can include caring for an elderly parent, a disabled relative or friend, or a special-needs child. Caregiving responsibilities could include help with cooking, cleaning, bathing, errands, transportation services to healthcare providers, administering medications, and more.
There are a few government programs in place that may help families provide care. These include Medicaid Home and Community-Based Services waivers, Veteran Directed Care via the VA, and various state-level programs like the California Paid Family Leave program.