Caregiving and Elder Care
Published June 24, 2025
Caregiving for a disabled, chronically ill family member or elderly adult is seldom easy. Many caregivers struggle with the stress of balancing work and caregiving responsibilities. But there are ways to manage stress and keep it from overwhelming you.
A large part of caregiver stress comes from being overloaded. There may be many competing demands on your time, and these demands may not leave much, or any, time for doing the things that you enjoy. At the same time, you may feel the emotional drain of caring for someone whose condition may not improve. If you are holding down a job and raising a family at the same time, the stress can seem overwhelming at times.
Recognize the signs of caregiver burnout
Some caregivers are reluctant to acknowledge the strain associated with their role, seeing this as an admission of failure. But acknowledging and recognizing stress is the first step toward reducing it. This acknowledgment is important, not just for the caregiver, but for everyone around them — the disabled relative, family and coworkers.
Seek support for your role
The most important thing to know about caregiving is that you do not need to do it alone. Your priority should be getting support for your role as a caregiver.
Being a Caregiver
Review these helpful tips for seeking help and support in your role as a caregiver, including:
A financial plan may help
Kinecta is here to help you navigate all of life’s challenges, and Kinecta Financial Advisors are especially helpful to caregivers and families looking for support to organize their financial lives.
Learn more about financial planning help at kinectawealth.org/financial-planning.
Neither MFS nor any of its subsidiaries is affiliated with Kinecta Federal Credit Union.
Caregiving for a disabled, chronically ill family member or elderly adult is seldom easy. Many caregivers struggle with the stress of balancing work and caregiving responsibilities. But there are ways to manage stress and keep it from overwhelming you.
A large part of caregiver stress comes from being overloaded. There may be many competing demands on your time, and these demands may not leave much, or any, time for doing the things that you enjoy. At the same time, you may feel the emotional drain of caring for someone whose condition may not improve. If you are holding down a job and raising a family at the same time, the stress can seem overwhelming at times.
Recognize the signs of caregiver burnout
Some caregivers are reluctant to acknowledge the strain associated with their role, seeing this as an admission of failure. But acknowledging and recognizing stress is the first step toward reducing it. This acknowledgment is important, not just for the caregiver, but for everyone around them — the disabled relative, family and coworkers.
Seek support for your role
The most important thing to know about caregiving is that you do not need to do it alone. Your priority should be getting support for your role as a caregiver.
Being a Caregiver
Review these helpful tips for seeking help and support in your role as a caregiver, including:
- Asking for help from other family members
- Asking for help from your community
- Asking for help from friends and neighbors
- Sharing your struggles with managers, coworkers and friends
- Taking care of yourself by taking breaks from caregiving
- Taking care of yourself by eating properly and getting enough sleep
A financial plan may help
Kinecta is here to help you navigate all of life’s challenges, and Kinecta Financial Advisors are especially helpful to caregivers and families looking for support to organize their financial lives.
Learn more about financial planning help at kinectawealth.org/financial-planning.
Neither MFS nor any of its subsidiaries is affiliated with Kinecta Federal Credit Union.