Caregiving is a demanding role that often requires juggling multiple responsibilities while maintaining personal well-being. Family caregivers must navigate emotional, financial, and logistical challenges while ensuring the best care for their loved ones. While it can feel overwhelming, with the right strategies and resources, caregivers can find balance and build a strong support system.
That’s why we spoke with Christy Byrne Yates, M.S., a Licensed Educational Psychologist and co-host of Untangling Alzheimer’s & Dementia. Christy shares expert insights on managing caregiving responsibilities, utilizing technology, and creating a strong support network.
Keep reading for her valuable advice.
Acknowledge and Commit: Acknowledge that you are a caregiver, even if you think you are “only doing a few little things.” Then, commit to what you are able and willing to do. By acknowledging yourself and committing, you can begin to shape how you will manage this period.
Discuss: Consult with key stakeholders, such as your person, whether they can engage with family members and legal and financial professionals. You cannot do this alone, so find ways to polish your negotiation and communication skills. Don’t wait to ask aging family members about their end-of-life wishes. Think about your wishes as well and document them. Check out The Conversation Project for guidance.
Self-Care: Sometimes, self-care means setting boundaries. Putting yourself first is not selfish – it is essential. Bubble baths and massages are great, but learn to say “no” when needed.
Team: We are not meant to do all of this alone. We used to live in villages that supported us. Now, we must build our team or village, including professionals, friends, and family.
Gifts: Gifts may come later, but many appear throughout the caregiving journey. Stay open to recognizing them.
If you are currently a caregiver, there is still an opportunity to do these things.
Learn2Care is a model that can support caregivers. It is an easy-to-access online resource, so it is available when you have time.
Several tech tools can support you. Look at trusted sources like CaringBridge, AARP, and Medisafe. If you’re not using the tech tools your healthcare provider provides, look into those. We used to keep everything on paper, but we have better tools now. Caregiving involves a lot of paperwork, and a binder is no longer feasible. What we always have with us is our phone. Find free or low-cost tools with an easy-to-use mobile phone interface.
Connect with local agencies that support your person’s particular needs. If your person does not have a specific diagnosis but is aging, there is likely a county or city-level agency that has a website and offers information. Your healthcare provider may have online resources. Every state in the U.S. has a department on aging, and generally, you can start there, which will lead you to more local-level agencies.
However, organizations such as the American Cancer Society, Alzheimer’s Association, or the Department of Mental Health should also be looked at. For children with special needs, consult your local school district about local agencies or support groups.
Technology can help us organize our paper trails, manage schedules, support medication compliance, and handle other aspects of caregiving.
However, technology cannot deliver personalized emotional or physical help. So when we use technology to maximize our time and keep us focused, we have more emotional bandwidth to interact with our person in a kind and loving manner. It’s easy to get super stressed trying to find a handwritten schedule of who’s doing what or looking for the current prescription from the doctor.
I’m a big fan of technology made for phones because we always have those. One thing to keep in mind is to always have extra phone chargers in your car, backpack, or purse!
Apps I’m paying attention to right now are:
Both are designed for busy family caregivers.
(Full disclosure: I’ve worked with Kinkeeper.app and have been an affiliate.)
It is so important to build your team. Your team will likely include healthcare providers, legal and financial professionals, friends, family, neighbors, and even your children’s parents, who can help with carpooling or respite.
While it can feel embarrassing to ask for help, most people want to help. Think about times someone has asked you for help – how did you feel about that? If you did help them, even a little, did it feel good to do so? Most of us would say “yes.”
Remember that this caregiving time is probably not forever.
Find a support group, whether online or in person. Although you may only need it briefly, interacting with others who have similar struggles can be helpful.
I’d also suggest leaning into your healthcare provider and asking about community resources. They might assist in that area or have staff who can support them. The more we ask this of our healthcare system, the more they will rise to the need.
It’s so easy to become isolated. While it’s true that no one is going through exactly what you are going through, many others are on a similar journey. When you interact with others, you also help to clear the path for others.
As an author, I always suggest finding books or online blogs that can help. However, as a caregiver, I know that time for reading is limited, so podcasts can be a great alternative. They are easy to listen to on the way to work or during carpool times.
Some podcasts I recommend for caregivers are:
Caregiving is a demanding yet rewarding journey. By acknowledging your role, building a strong support system, utilizing technology, and prioritizing self-care, you can navigate this experience with greater confidence and resilience. Remember, you don’t have to do it alone. Resources, tools, and people are there to support you every step of the way.
Christy Byrne Yates, M.S., is dedicated to transforming educational consulting and workshops, empowering parents and teachers with practical, research-based strategies. With over 3.5 years as a Licensed Educational Psychologist, her expertise in Trauma-Informed Care, Child Development, and Education is deeply rooted in hands-on service and advocacy.
As the host of Untangling Alzheimer's & Dementia, Christy extends her impact beyond the classroom, providing valuable insights through AlzAuthors.com. Her work bridges the personal and professional, guiding the Sandwich Generation through the complexities of caregiving and education. For Christy, this isn't just a profession; it's a mission to support and uplift those navigating these unique challenges.
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