How to Build a Support Network for Caregivers

Being a caregiver can be overwhelming both physically and emotionally. Early mornings, late nights, appointments, picking up prescriptions, cooking meals, and more. By becoming a caregiver, you are agreeing to more than most understand. This can easily cause burn out, resentment, or overwhelm – especially if you’re trying to do it all alone.

That’s why creating a support network is crucial to your success as a caregiver. It’s not always easy to ask for help when caring for a loved one, but it can make a world of difference in your experience. In this article, we’ll give you tips and recommendations for building a support network that will help ensure that you are always at your best for the one you love.

Let’s dive in.

Think About a Team

Think of your support network as your team – a small group of people who can help you with various assigned tasks/roles. No matter how hard you try, there are likely to be times when your schedule conflicts with your loved one’s needs, you may need a sick day, or something simply comes up.

What will you do in an emergency if you can’t get there?

Whether you think you’ll need help or not, it’s important to have people you can count on to show up if you can’t be around for any reason. Create a system that works for everyone and can take care of some of the stress that’s on you.

There are lots of ways to ask for help beyond a simple phone tree too, including:

Creating a carpool schedule, for example. Helping the neighbors with school drop off in exchange for help taking your loved ones to appointments.
Have someone or a service that can pick up and deliver medications when needed (they may need prior consent/ID/authorization, so it’s important to put a plan in place before an emergency happens).
Start a meal train to relieve time in the kitchen.
Create a schedule with friends and family that allows them to step in and give you time off on an ad hoc or recurring basis.

Let People Know the Situation

It’s hard to ask for help or get people to reach out and offer help if they do not fully understand the situation. That’s why transparency is key. Don’t be afraid to reach out to friends and family to let them know the situation your loved one is in and that you are responsible for caring for them. Reaching out to people will give them the opportunity to offer help in any way they can. They can’t help if they don’t know.

Not everyone will offer to help, but you may be surprised at how many people do offer – even if it’s something small like dropping off a meal once a month.

Accept Help When It’s Offered

Letting people know about the situation is only a partial solution. You also have to be willing to accept help from those who offer it. As a caregiver it’s understandable that you feel responsible for your loved one, but especially in the case of family and friends, allowing them to help you goves them a chance to spend time with the one they love too.

You can also choose what things you do and don’t need/want help with. If someone offers to take on a task you’re not comfortable with them having, offer an alternative that would be a load off for you.

This help can allow you to get some rest or continue activities you enjoy, like going to the gym, going for a walk, grabbing a cup of coffee, or reading a book to unwind. Taking care of yourself will allow you to better care for your loved one and keep you healthy in the process.

Hire Help

It’s no secret – caregiving is expensive. There are direct costs (like gas or medical appointments) and indirect expenses (like time off of work).

Not every caregiver can afford to hire help. But if you are in a financial position that allows it, a team of professional caregivers and nurses who can step in from time to time is a great way to build your support system.

If you would like to hire help but aren’t in the right financial position to do it out of pocket, there are options for you too! We have a full article on the costs of caregiving and how to find relief available for you here.

Support Groups

Becoming a family caregiver can feel like an incredibly isolating experience. There are a lot of intense emotions it brings out – and when you feel exhausted, overwhelmed, or alone, it may feel like there’s no one you can talk to about it because no one else knows what it’s like. Your family, friends, and even the loved one in your care may not empathize with your position.

That’s where a support group (either online or in person) can step in. You aren’t alone, even if it feels like it, but sometimes you need to branch out of your existing circle to realize it. These people can quickly become a key piece in your support network.

Closing Thoughts: Building a Support Network

Caregiving can be difficult and isolating, but you don’t have to – and shouldn’t – do it alone. Building a support newtork of people who can help can make all the difference.

The California Caregiver Resource Centers were created with you both in mind and at heart to be a free resource as you navigate the challenging role you’re in. We would love to connect you with your local Center, which can talk more about local programs and support groups for caregivers, answer your questions, and explain how they can best support you.