Caregiver Burnout: Signs To Watch For and What Helps
Caring for someone you love can be meaningful, and exhausting. In AARP and the National Alliance for Caregiving's Caregiving in the US 2025 report, many caregivers described emotional, physical and financial strain. Burnout isn't weakness; it's a sign that the load is too heavy for one person.
Common signs
- Feeling tired all the time, even after sleep
- Getting sick more often
- Withdrawing from friends and things you used to enjoy
- Irritability, resentment or feeling hopeless
- Changes in appetite or weight
- Trouble concentrating
- Neglecting your own health appointments
- Feeling like you can never do enough
If you're having thoughts of harming yourself, call or text 988 (the Suicide & Crisis Lifeline in the US) right away.
What helps
1. Share the load. Make a list of tasks and ask specific people for specific things. "Can you take Mom to her Thursday appointment?" works better than "let me know if you need anything." See sharing caregiving with siblings.
2. Get respite care. Adult day programs, in-home respite and short stays give caregivers a break. The Eldercare Locator (1-800-677-1116) connects you to local services.
3. Use the system. Ask the doctor about home health, therapy or social work referrals. If your loved one has a serious illness, ask whether palliative care or hospice is appropriate.
4. Protect your job. Check whether you can use FMLA or paid family leave.
5. Simplify the paperwork. Much caregiver stress comes from chasing information. Keeping everything in one caregiver binder helps.
6. Talk to someone. Caregiver support groups, online or local, and counselors can help.
7. Keep one thing that's yours. A walk, a call with a friend, one evening a week.
Not medical advice.
The Family Caregiver Binder includes a "care for the caregiver" page and a helper schedule.
Family Caregiver Binder — $14
19-page caregiver binder: medical summary, medication list and log, appointment log, discharge checklist, legal documents and a care tracker spreadsheet. Instant download: PDF + DOCX + XLSX.
Get the Family Caregiver BinderFamily Paperwork Bundle — $34More guides
- Caregiver Binder: What To Include (Printable Checklist)
- Medication List for an Elderly Parent: Free Template and Tips
- Questions To Ask the Doctor as a Caregiver
- Hospital Discharge Checklist for Caregivers
- HIPAA Authorization vs. Health Care Power of Attorney: What Caregivers Need
- FMLA for Caregivers: Can You Take Leave To Care for a Parent?
- How To Share Caregiving With Siblings (Without Fighting)
- The Medicare Hospice Benefit, Explained for Families
- What To Bring to the ER for an Elderly Parent (Grab-and-Go List)