Caregivers

Your Health Matters Too

A caregiver’s health is part of the care plan. Rest, medical care, support, and time away are not evidence of failure.

A direct reminder

You can love someone deeply and still feel tired, angry, trapped, numb, resentful, or unsure. Mixed feelings can happen in caregiving. They are signals to seek support, not proof that you are a bad caregiver.

Tell your own clinician that you are caregiving. Bring up sleep, pain, missed medications, appetite changes, anxiety, depression, isolation, alcohol or substance use, and any thoughts that make you feel unsafe.

Sources: Taking Care of Yourself: Tips for Caregivers · Take Care of Yourself as a Caregiver · Caregiving

Warning signs that support is overdue

  • You are routinely missing sleep, meals, work, medication, or your own appointments.
  • You are afraid you may hurt yourself, the person you care for, or someone else.
  • You cannot safely complete transfers, feeding, bathing, or equipment tasks.
  • You feel hopeless, panicked, persistently numb, or unable to function.
  • You have no backup person and cannot leave the home for a break.

Sources: Taking Care of Yourself: Tips for Caregivers · Caregiver Articles, Webinars & Videos

What support can look like

  • A scheduled respite block, even if it starts small.
  • A family meeting that assigns specific tasks instead of asking vaguely for help.
  • A social-worker or care-coordinator conversation about home services and benefits.
  • A therapist, counselor, peer group, faith leader, or caregiver support program.
  • A plan for urgent help when you are at your limit.

Sources: Taking Care of Yourself: Tips for Caregivers · National Family Caregiver Support Program · Support for Caregivers

Urgent emotional safety

If you may act on thoughts of suicide, self-harm, violence, or immediate danger, call emergency services or go to the nearest emergency department. In the United States, call or text 988 for the Suicide & Crisis Lifeline. If the danger involves breathing, choking, a fall, or another medical emergency, call emergency services. ALS Hub does not diagnose mental-health conditions; urgent safety concerns need immediate human help.

Sources: Taking Care of Yourself: Tips for Caregivers

Sources & Further Reading

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Caregiver information is educational and does not replace individualized instruction from the ALS team, a licensed clinician, an employer or benefits professional, or an emergency response system.

Caregiver information last reviewed: 09-30-2026

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