Why Recognizing Yourself as a Caregiver Matters, Explained Simply
Recognizing Yourself as a Caregiver: what it is, why it matters, and what published guidance actually asks of you.
Many family caregivers do not see themselves as one, and naming the role is what opens the door to support, respite and information.
Key takeaways
- Family caregivers: tens of millions of Americans provide unpaid care to an adult or child
- Eldercare Locator: 1-800-677-1116, a free public service that connects you to local aging and caregiver services
- Most useful single change: Tell your own doctor that you are a caregiver.
- Commonest mistake: Waiting until you are in crisis to ask for help.
- See a doctor if any of the signs under "When to speak to a doctor" below apply to you.
The short answer
Providing unpaid support to someone who could not manage without it.
Where it fits
This is part of Carers Health. The figures come first, because the advice only makes sense against them.
The numbers, in one place
| Measure | Figure |
|---|---|
| Family caregivers | tens of millions of Americans provide unpaid care to an adult or child |
| Eldercare Locator | 1-800-677-1116, a free public service that connects you to local aging and caregiver services |
| National Family Caregiver Support Program | offered through local Area Agencies on Aging |
| Tell your doctor | being a caregiver changes what support and screening is worth discussing |
What that means in practice
Put another way, here is what it asks of you:
- Tell your own doctor that you are a caregiver
- Call the Eldercare Locator or your local Area Agency on Aging to ask what support exists near you
- Ask the person's care team whether you can be listed as a contact and get information
- Check whether the person qualifies for Medicaid, Medicare or veterans' benefits that include help at home
What gets people into trouble
What to watch out for:
- Waiting until you are in crisis to ask for help
- Assuming support is only for people who call themselves caregivers
- Keeping the role to yourself at work or with your own doctor
Related topics
- The Evidence on Men and Mental Health, Without the Hype (Men's Health)
- Supporting a Family Member With Addiction: Sorting the Evidence From the Noise (Substance Use and Recovery)
- Supporting Someone Else: What the Evidence Actually Says (Mental Health)
- Getting Help From a Pharmacy: What the Evidence Actually Says (Using Health Services)
Where to go next
- Recognizing Yourself as a Caregiver: Common Myths and What Guidelines Say
- Starting Out With Recognizing Yourself as a Caregiver
- Recognizing Yourself as a Caregiver — the reference entry
- Caregiver Health: The Complete Guide
- Caregiver Burnout: Sorting the Evidence From the Noise
- What the Guidance Really Says About Caring and Your Own Health
When to speak to a doctor
See your doctor if caregiving is affecting your own sleep, mood or health. If you feel unable to go on, or are worried you might harm yourself or the person you care for, call or text 988 (Suicide & Crisis Lifeline) at any hour, and call 911 if anyone is in immediate danger.
Where this comes from
- Family Caregiver Alliance — Caregiver Health
- National Institute on Aging — Getting Help With Caregiving
How this page was put together
Every figure, recommendation and warning above is taken from the guidance named in Where this comes from. Nothing on this page is inferred, summarized or generalized beyond what those bodies publish: where they give a number, it is their number, and where they are silent, so are we. Pages are rebuilt whenever the underlying record changes. Sign-off by a named clinician, where it has happened, is shown at the top of the page along with the date.
Medical disclaimer
This article is general information, not medical advice. It cannot account for your own history, medication or circumstances. Always speak to your doctor, pharmacist or another qualified health professional before making changes that affect your treatment, and never delay seeking medical advice because of something you have read here. In an emergency, call 911.
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