Caregiver Support Is Essential for Mental Well-Being

It takes a village to raise a child. That's an African proverb meaning it takes a community to provide a healthy and safe environment for a child to grow. But what happens when you grow up? As adults, we often overlook the myriad of situations where we need our families and communities to have our backs.

According to the National Alliance for Caregiving and AARP's Caregiving in the U.S. 2020 report, an estimated 53 million Americans are acting as unpaid caregivers to loved ones. This equates to 1 in 5 individuals whose lives are profoundly affected to ensure the health and safety of their relatives, often at the expense of their own mental, physical, and emotional health.

As a former paid caregiver, I spoke with Jacquelyn Revere, founder of momofmymom.com, a platform documenting her caregiving journey with her late mother. I also interviewed multidisciplinary artist TreZure Empire, who has dedicated two decades to caring for her mother. They shared valuable insights on how they navigate caregiving the emotional and mental challenges, and their needs from both their community and themselves.

Here are four pieces of advice for caregivers, from caregivers:

• Be gentle with yourself. Your life is changing, and you can't know everything at the outset. Revere emphasizes the importance of forgiving yourself for initial mistakes and frustrations. Emotional resilience builds over time.
• Don't hesitate to seek help. Establish a care team for both yourself and the person you are caring for. Delegate tasks, whether that's arranging for meals or companionship. Small acts can significantly ease your burden.
• Know your rights and explore resources. Caregivers often juggle work alongside their caregiving responsibilities. Familiarize yourself with your rights and workplace policies regarding caregiver leave—consider the Eligible Leave for Employee Caregiving Time Act (ELECT) and the Federal Family and Medical Leave Act.
• Prioritize self-care. You must care for yourself before you can effectively care for others. Establish personal time for practices like meditation, stretching, or journaling to maintain a balanced life.

Ultimately, remember that your role in caregiving is to ensure your loved one's wellness. This includes creating joyful moments together.

We would like to hear from you: Caregivers, how do you cope with burnout? Share your advice on self-care while caregiving by emailing lifekit@npr.org, and your story may be featured on NPR.org.