Caregiver Support
Recognize caregiver burnout, find respite care, and connect with support groups and helplines.
Overview
Caring for an aging parent is demanding work that too often goes unsupported, and the caregiver's own health is frequently the first casualty. This hub is about not doing it alone. Support comes in several forms: respite care that gives you genuine breaks, support groups (in person and online) that connect you with people who understand, and practical help from siblings and family when tasks are assigned concretely rather than vaguely. It also means watching for burnout in yourself, such as persistent exhaustion, resentment, or withdrawal, and treating those as signals to get help, not signs of failure. In the NW suburbs, Area Agencies on Aging, local hospitals, and senior centers offer caregiver programs and groups. If you're not sure whether what you're feeling qualifies as burnout, our self-assessment is a faster gut-check than trying to diagnose yourself from a list of symptoms, and it takes about five minutes.
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Frequently Asked Questions
What is respite care and how do I get it?
Respite care is short-term relief coverage, ranging from a few hours of in-home help to a short stay at an assisted living or skilled nursing community. Start with your Area Agency on Aging or township senior services, since some respite is grant-funded and low cost. Private-pay respite is also widely available through home care agencies.
How do I get my siblings to actually help?
Vague requests get vague results. Bring a written list of specific, assignable tasks with rough time estimates and let people choose from it. Siblings at a distance can often take on scheduling, bill paying, insurance calls, and research, which is real work and does not require being in the room.
Is it normal to feel resentment and guilt at the same time?
Yes, and they usually arrive together. Feeling angry at a parent you also love does not make you a bad caregiver, and neither does needing a break. Persistent guilt, hopelessness, or losing interest in things you used to enjoy are worth raising with a doctor or therapist rather than waiting out.
Where can I find a support group near the Northwest Suburbs?
Township senior services, the local hospital systems, and the Alzheimer's Association chapter all run groups, and many now offer virtual options that are far easier to attend when you cannot leave the house. The Family Caregiver Alliance and Caregiver Action Network also maintain national directories and help desks.
I'm raising my own kids and caring for a parent at the same time — is there a name for this?
It's commonly called the sandwich generation, and if that's your situation, you're not managing an unusually hard version of normal caregiving — you're managing two full-time roles at once. Our guide on sandwich generation stress has coping strategies built specifically around that double load.
My employer offers an Employee Assistance Program — is that worth using for this?
Often, yes. Many EAPs include a set number of free counseling sessions and, less well known, caregiving-specific referral services that can help locate respite care or support groups faster than searching on your own. Check your benefits portal or ask HR what's included before assuming it's only for mental health counseling in the abstract sense.