Care partners, or caregivers, provide essential support and assistance for people with disabilities, chronic illnesses or those requiring ongoing care. Tasks provided by care partners vary depending on a person’s needs but can include anything from assisting with activities of daily living (ADLs), instrumental activities of daily living (IADLs), mobility assistance, emotional support, medical assistance or care plan management. ADLs refer to the basic, everyday tasks necessary for independent living, such as eating, bathing, dressing and toileting. IADLs are similar to ADLs in that they are required for independent living but are more complex in nature and allow individuals to maintain a quality of life (Cleveland Clinic, Activities of Daily Living, 2025).

Examples of IADLs are managing finances, cooking and shopping. Care partners may help with mobility assistance by transferring their individuals from assistive devices, such as wheelchairs or walkers, and may provide emotional support by providing companionship or encouragement. Medical assistance involves communicating with healthcare providers on behalf of the person(s) they are caring for, monitoring or dispersing medications, and assisting with appointments. Care plan management involves organizing and coordinating client care to meet their individual needs and goals. The role of a care partner can be formal, such as a professional nurse or home health aide, or informal, like a family member or friend. Not all care partners assist clients; some might assist family members or friends.

It is important to note the difference between a caregiver and a care partner lies in the approach to care. A caregiver strictly provides care for a care recipient and a care partner collaborates or partners with others on shared decision-making for a care recipient. A caregiver may be the only person solely responsible for providing care for a recipient, while a care partner works with multiple people, if needed, to find solutions that best enhance a care recipient’s quality of life. The term care partner promotes a more positive experience for the care recipient and can reduce the burden on the care provider by encouraging shared responsibility (Jacobsen, K., 2024).

As care partners take on the role of caring for someone, it is common to encounter a variety of challenges, including emotional fatigue or stress, financial strain, deteriorating physical and mental health, and social strain in the forms of isolation or burnout (NCHPAD, Mental and Physical Self-Care Tips, 2021).

• Emotional fatigue or stress can occur due to the constant demands of caregiving, often leading to feelings of frustration, anger or helplessness. Overwhelming feelings of guilt are also common and are caused by feelings of not providing perfect care and worry about their client’s or loved one’s health or quality of life.
• Financial strain can occur because caregiving is expensive. If a care partner is performing in an informal capacity, i.e. providing care for a loved one, they may feel obligated to provide financial support for medical equipment and supplies, medication or hiring additional paid help. Many informal care partners find themselves having to reduce or quit full-time work to provide adequate care, resulting in lost wages.
• Deteriorating physical and mental health can occur in care partners because caregiving can be a physically and mentally challenging job. Physical tasks of cleaning, assisting with transfers and other physical requirements may take a toll on the care partner’s body. Feelings of stress and anxiety due to constant concerns about another person’s well-being can lead to depression and feelings of hopelessness. Care partners often prioritize the well-being of their loved one or clients and neglect their own nutrition, sleep and well-being. Illness, chronic health problems and burnout are results of neglecting one’s own self-care.
• Social strain in the form of isolation and burnout commonly occurs in caregivers because of the constant demands associated with caregiving. Many caregivers may feel isolated, especially if they are primary care partners. This can result in feelings of loneliness, as they may not have time to socialize or pursue personal interests.

How to Avoid Challenges as a Care Partner

To combat the challenges faced by many care partners, the following are areas to focus on improving or establishing routines: physical self-care, emotional and mental health, social and relationship health, practical support and resources, personal fulfillment and identity.  

Physical Self-Care

Physical self-care refers to the practices and activities that maintain physical health and well-being. They are essential to adding to quality of life and provide many benefits, including improved physical fitness and endurance, reduced risk of chronic diseases, increased energy levels and mood, reduced stress and anxiety, and enhanced overall quality of life (NCHPAD, Caregiver Tips and Suggestion, 2020).

• Focus on nutrition and hydration by maintaining a balanced diet and scheduling regular meals and snacks.
• Aim for consistent sleep routines and use relaxation techniques to promote rest and improve sleep hygiene.
• Maintain regular exercise and movement by incorporating light daily physical activity, like stretching, walks or other adapted exercises for those with physical disabilities.
• Attend regular medical check-ups and monitor chronic conditions or care partner-related injuries for health maintenance.  

Emotional and Mental Health

Emotional and mental health encompass our emotional, psychological and social well-being. It affects how we think, act and feel which influences our ability to cope with stress, relate to others and make choices. When emotional and mental health are prioritized, numerous benefits occur, including improved physical health, stronger relationships, enhanced productivity and enhanced well-being. It also equips us with the tools to manage stressors and navigate challenges with grace (NCHPAD, Explore Mindfulness and Self Care, 2020).

Allow yourself room for emotional expression by allowing space for grief, frustration and joy. Engage in creative outlets, like arts, writing and music.

Manage stress by practicing mindfulness, meditation or deep breathing. Journaling or using guided prompts may also be effective tools for stress management.

Support mental health by seeking counseling or therapy if needed. Care partner support groups, both virtually and in-person, also exist to provide personalized perspectives.

Social and Relationship Health

Social and relationship health focus on the quality of our interactions with others and the overall health of our social networks and relationships. It includes our ability to form, maintain and navigate social connections and both are critical for physical and mental well-being. Strong social and healthy relationships are beneficial by contributing to longer life, better physical and mental health, and a greater sense of happiness.

• Stay connected with friends and family through regular communication. This can be done via social media applications or forums used for connection. Examples of social media applications such as Facebook, Instagram, Reddit and Quora or forums such as the American Association of Retired Persons (AARP) caregivers forum.
• Establish relationship boundaries by setting limits with care recipients and others to avoid resentment. Ask for help when needed and don’t try to do it all.
• Spend quality time with others in non-caregiving roles, like friends or partners.

Practical Support and Resources

Practical support and resources provide tangible assistance and directly impact both the care partner’s well-being and the quality of care they provide. Adequate support and resources are necessary because they help prevent burnout, reduce stress and isolation, and allow care partners to maintain health while providing care, thus leading to better outcomes for the recipient.

• Maintain time management by using calendars and reminders to manage caregiving and personal time. Prioritize and delegate tasks when possible.
• Explore respite care opportunities for short-term relief care services. Use local disability organizations for help locating services.
• Learn about financial and legal planning, including care partner subsidies, benefits and legal rights. Plan for long-term care support and transitions.
• Plan for emergencies and crises. Create a care backup plan in the event the care partner becomes unavailable; prepare lists of emergency contacts, medications and care instructions; keep a go-bag ready with essentials for both care partner and recipient.

Personal Fulfillment and Identity

Caregiving can significantly impact a person’s identity and sense of self potentially leading to a loss of identity or a shift in personal priorities. Maintaining a sense of personal identity and pursuing personal fulfillment while also caring for others requires intentional effort but is critical to overall well-being (NCHPAD, Spiritual Wellness and the Benefits of Spiritual Practice, 2020).

• Maintain or create personal goals by keeping hobbies, passions and personal aspirations alive. Set achievable goals outside the caregiving role.
• Celebrate small wins by acknowledging accomplishments in caregiving and personal life.
• Stay spiritually or philosophically grounded by engaging in practices that bring meaning – this could be through prayer, meditation or reflection.

Caregiving is an important and rewarding job, but it can also be extremely challenging and demanding. If care partners don’t participate in self-care activities like the ones previously mentioned, they put themselves at risk of developing or worsening health conditions, experiencing burnout and not providing the best care for the person for whom they provide care. By participating in self-care activities, both the care partner and those they care for should experience positive outcomes. Aside from the suggestions mentioned here, several other resources exist to help; these are some of our favorites:

• The National Alliance for Caregiving (NAC)
• American Association of Retired Persons (AARP)
• Caregiver Action Network (CAN)
• National Institute on Aging (NIA)
• Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC)

Access to resources, support and self-care practices can prevent care partner burnout and help maintain their health and well-being

References:

AARP. (2025, June 11). Caregiver resources in your state. AARP. https://www.aarp.org/caregiving/211-help.html?cmp=CLD1J5MSHF&gclsrc=aw.ds&gad_source=1&gad_campaignid=22501218646&gclid=CjwKCAjwr5_CBhBlEiwAzfwYuFB_aQ7P9S1ADXuReSPhUhe5cJep39J81TbkHHOisxh-652Si91KBBoC1bgQAvD_BwE

Caregiving, N. A. (2025, June 11). Help for caregivers. National Alliance for Caregiving. https://www.caregiving.org/resources/

Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). (2025, June 11). Caregiving. https://www.cdc.gov/caregiving/index.html

Cleveland Clinic. (2025, June 11). Activities of daily living. https://my.clevelandclinic.org/health/articles/activities-of-daily-living-adls

Jacobsen, K. (2024). Why words matter: “care partner” vs “caregiver” & more. Alzheimer’s San Diego. https://www.alzsd.org/why-words-matter-care-partner-vs-caregiver-more National Alliance for Caregiving (NAC). (2025, June 11). Building caregiver health and wellness. https://www.caregiving.org/programs/

National Center on Health, Physical Activity and Disability (NCHPAD). (2020, May 21). Caregiver tips and suggestions. https://www.nchpad.org/resources/caregiver-tips-and-suggestions/

National Center on Health, Physical Activity and Disability (NCHPAD). (2020, February 24). Explore mindfulness and self-care. https://www.nchpad.org/resources/explore-mindfulness-and-self-care/

National Center on Health, Physical Activity and Disability (NCHPAD). (2020, March 17). Spiritual wellness and the benefits of spiritual practice. https://www.nchpad.org/resources/my-scorecard-your-spiritual-practice/

National Center on Health, Physical Activity and Disability (NCHPAD). (2021, May 20). Mental and physical self-care tips. https://www.nchpad.org/resources/my-scorecard-self-care/

National Institutes of Health (NIH). (2025, June 11). Caregiver toolkit: Information and resources to support caregivers. https://www.nia.nih.gov/toolkits/caregiving