If you’re a caregiver, you probably agreed to take care of your loved one with the best of intentions. Maybe you felt naturally inclined to be a caregiver. Maybe you felt like you should take care of them because they took care of you. No matter why you chose to do it, there may come a time when caregiving feels like it’s too much. Not because you can’t do it, but because it can be as tough as it is rewarding. Thankfully, you don’t have to face caregiving alone. We’re here to offer you tips for what to do when caregiving feels like it’s too much.

Don’t be Afraid to Reevaluate When Caregiving Feels like it’s too Much

Becoming a caregiver is a huge responsibility. While it can often be seen as a blessing to be able to care for a loved one, that doesn’t always mean it’s easy.

Saying Yes Once Doesn’t Mean Saying Yes Forever

Being a caregiver shouldn’t be thought of as a one-time decision. It’s a decision where you should be able to change your mind. Regardless of your reasoning, it’s okay to say no. As a caregiver, it’s important to regularly reevaluate your decision. Remember, just because you chose to be a caregiver one day doesn’t mean you need to stay one forever.

Think about how the experience is going for both you and your loved one. Especially consider if there are other options that could work better for either or both of you – even if it’s temporary. If family caregiving isn’t working as well as you’d like, don’t force it. It can be better for everyone involved to choose a different route sometimes.

Sometimes Life Gets in the Way

Sometimes caregiving feels like it’s too much simply because life gets in the way. Life doesn’t stop when you become a caregiver. Your health and wellness, and other members of your family, may need to come first at times.

At times, life getting in the way may look like needing to preserve your own mental and emotional wellbeing. They say you can’t pour from an empty cup and that’s never more true than in being a caregiver for an aging loved one.

Other times, being a caregiver for an aging loved one may feel like too much because you’re also caring for your own child still. In 2025, 3 out of ten family caregivers in Ohio were also providing care for a child under 18. It might feel impossible trying to take care of your entire family and yourself. Remember that it’s okay to say you need a break from caregiving or that it’s no longer the best solution. Caring for a loved one and prioritizing your own wellbeing shouldn’t be a tradeoff.

Ease the Weight of Caregiving

Just because you find yourself thinking caregiving feels like too much doesn’t mean you have to give it up entirely. Becoming a caregiver isn’t just black and white. It comes with a lot of gray. Sometimes, you might just need a break. Thankfully, there are options that can help with this so your loved one can get the care they need and you can get the time you need to care for yourself.

Home Health

One solution that could make your journey as a caregiver easier is home health. Choosing to work with home health doesn’t mean you have to have to hire someone 24/7. You don’t even have to hire them for 8-hour days or 7 days a week. They’ll work with your schedule. You may only need someone to be with your loved one a couple hours at a time, a couple times a week. Find what works for you so you can get the breaks you need and avoid caregiver burnout.

Adult Day

You may find that you need a more structured schedule and feel like your loved one could benefit from more socialization. These are great reasons to consider an adult day center. Whether it’s one or two days a week, or five days a week, this can be a more affordable option for you to have longer breaks during the day on a consistent basis. Adult day centers are especially beneficial for the more than half of Ohio caregivers who work in addition to caregiving.

Respite Care

Another possible solution to consider is respite care. Many senior living communities, like The Ohio Masonic Communities, offer respite care options. These are generally for assisted living or memory care and can often range from only a couple days to a month or more. With respite care, your loved one stays at a senior living community. You can think of it like staying at a hotel, except they’re receiving care, support, and socialization.

Caregiver Resources from The Ohio Masonic Communities

The caregiving journey can be tough and you shouldn’t have to face it alone. That’s why we’ve created resources to help you navigate your unique caregiving journey.

Here to Help: Your Guide to Navigating the Caregiving Journey

We created a guide that answers some of the biggest caregiving questions such as:

• When is caregiving needed?
• What are the legal aspects of caregiving?
• How does caregiving affect relationships?
• Why is self-care important?
• What resources exist to support caregivers?

You can download your free copy of the guide by submitting the form below.

Senior Living Today – Navigating the Caretaker Role

Every caregiving journey is unique. But sometimes it’s helpful to hear from someone else who’s walking in similar shoes. In this episode of Senior Living Today, you can hear one man’s journey as a caregiver for his mother.

At The Ohio Masonic Communities, we support not only our residents, but also caregivers. With options for respite care and the resources available through The Ohio Masonic Communities Resource Center, we want caregivers to feel supported as they navigate the caregiving journey. We have three senior living communities across the state of Ohio – Browning Masonic Community in Waterville, Ohio, Springfield Masonic Community in Springfield, Ohio, and Western Reserve Masonic Community in Medina, Ohio. If you are interested in learning more about our respite care options, or would like to connect with our resource center, give us a call at 1 (877) 881-1623 or contact us here.