Caregiver Resources: Where Caregivers Can Go for Support

Millions of people are caring for loved ones who are sick or disabled. In fact, some 25 percent of U.S. adults report providing care or assistance to someone with a long-term illness or disability.¹

Caregiving in America

In our 2020 Caregiving In America survey, we explored the experiences of people serving as caregivers. More than 500 people completed the survey, and they provided a unique look at their role. Caregivers mentioned that they are spending about 30 hours per week providing care, and nearly half do not get any help from others for what they do.

All told, some 90 million Americans are caring for loved ones with disabilities, disease, or chronic conditions. While being a caregiver can be rewarding, it can also cause stress and depression.^1,2

Help is out there

The good news is that there is help out there. While there will be good days and bad ones, plenty of resources are available to help keep you feeling supported, positive, and healthy. Maybe you would like to attend an in-person or a virtual support group. You may want to hire a reliable caregiver to give you an occasional break, or perhaps you would like to learn some stress-relief techniques. Here is a helpful guide to what you will find.

General resources for caregivers

Family Care Navigator helps family caregivers find public, private, and nonprofit programs and services nearest to their loved one, whether that person lives at home or in a residential facility. Government health and disability programs, legal resources, and disease-specific organizations are outlined; you click on your state to find services available to you.

The Caregiver Action Network’s Care Support Team can help you navigate a variety of complex caregiving challenges. Experts are available to take your call from 8 am to 7 pm EST.

The National Center for Chronic Disease Prevention and Health Promotion offers advice on how to communicate with the care recipient’s doctor, plus tips on what to do before, during, and after the person’s doctor’s visit. It is run by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). The CDC also has a Complete Care Plan that lets you summarize the care recipient’s health condition and current treatments for their care.

The Eldercare Locator offers a variety of resources for caregivers. Visit this site to learn where you can get help with transportation, what services may be available to older Americans who are veterans, or how to find activities and wellness programs for older adults.

Several free, password-protected sites help you organize meals and other services that your loved one may need:

• Lotsa Helping Hands, which has the option to share calendars for care team coordination
• Tyze, which allows you to quickly and easily build a network for support and stay connected to your care team
• CaringBridge, a site or app, that includes tools you need to keep your family and friends updated while caring for your loved one.

Virtual support groups

For some, living in a rural area, difficulty traveling, or being in large groups of people can prevent people from finding and attending in-person support groups. Those who prefer to find online support, there are places out there for you.

• Caregivers Hub Support Group is a closed group on Facebook where caregivers can openly share their experiences and ask questions.
• Caregivers Connect is another closed group on Facebook where caregivers come together to connect and share stories and information.
• Caregiver Support Community is for non-professional caregivers and is a good place for sharing your story and learning about what other caregivers are experiencing.
• Caregiver Space Community, part of the nonprofit TheCaregiverSpace.org, is a community of family, community, and professional caregivers who want to share their experiences.

Finding a qualified professional caregiver

If having another caregiver to help you sounds like a great idea, there are a few resources that are worth checking out:

• Caregivers section of the National Association of Area Agencies on Aging, which helps connect you with local providers who can help you create a caregiving plan, address specific challenges, or identify support services.
• National Respite Locator lets you search for respite providers and programs, search for respite funding, and provides general family caregiver information.
• Family Caregivers Alliance is a useful resource if you are considering hiring in-home help.

Resources for long-distance caregivers

If you are caring for your loved one, but you don’t live close to him or her, there are

• Eldercare Locator, a search tool offered by the U.S. government’s Administration on Aging, can connect you to various options for care, or you can call the service at 1-800-677-1116.
• The National Adult Day Services Association helps you find programs that may be available to your care recipient. More than 260,000 participants and family caregivers are served by over 5,000 adult day services centers around the United States.

Resources for those caring for someone with cancer

If you are caring for someone living with cancer, there is plenty of support available to you.

• Cancer.Net offers information on topics such as cancer research and treatment in an audio podcast format.
• Cancer Support Community offers professionally led programs designed to help caregivers. The website notes that it has more than 170 locations worldwide, along with programs such as support groups, educational workshops, and yoga classes.
• CancerCare offers free professional support services for caregivers and loved ones, along with additional information and resources for caregivers. Support is available via phone, online, and face-to-face.
• The American Cancer Society offers an interactive caregiver resource guide and a caregiver support video series.

The 2020 Caregiving In America survey was conducted online from September 2019 through August 2020. Of the 577 people who completed the survey, 348 are current caregivers, 36 are past caregivers for someone who is alive, and 193 are past caregivers for someone who is now deceased.