When Caregiving Chooses You: Finding Strength, Balance, and Joy in the Journey
Published: October 27, 2025
A Story You May Recognize
You may know someone like Carol.
She starts her day early making coffee, checking her work emails, then heading next door to help her dad get dressed, eat breakfast, and take his morning pills. By 8 a.m., she’s in two roles (professional and caregiver) before the rest of the world has even started its day.
By evening, she’s tired, grateful, and quietly wondering how long she can keep this pace.
Can you relate? You may find yourself balancing those same invisible roles holding it all together with love, worry, and a to-do list that never quite ends.
If so, you’re part of a powerful and growing group: the 63 million Americans who are family caregivers today. In fact, nearly one in four adults across the country (AARP, 2025). That number has grown by 45 percent in just the past decade, and it’s still rising.
The Changing Face of Caregiving
Caregiving no longer looks like it did a generation ago. It’s more complex, more connected, and often more isolating.
Today’s caregivers are managing medications, scheduling telehealth visits, coordinating home-monitoring devices, and learning new skills once reserved for nurses and social workers. One national study found that almost 4 in 10 caregivers experience emotional stress, and nearly a quarter say they struggle to take care of their own health because of caregiving demands (Caregiving in the U.S., 2025).
Add technology like apps, smart devices, wearables and caregiving becomes both easier and more demanding. There’s always a new tool to try, a password to remember, a notification to answer.
The Invisible Workforce
Many caregivers don’t even call themselves “caregivers.” They’re simply being a good daughter, son, spouse, or neighbor. But the truth is, this “invisible workforce” provides more than $600 billion in unpaid care every year (AARP, 2024).
That’s more than the total annual spending on paid home health and nursing home care combined.
And while the value is enormous, the personal cost can be high. Caregivers report higher rates of burnout, anxiety, and even chronic illnesses. The emotional toll often shows up quietly–missed doctor visits, sleepless nights, or that ever-present feeling of guilt (“Am I doing enough?”).
Balancing Independence and Safety
One of the most common challenges caregivers face is how to support independence while keeping a loved one safe.
That balance isn’t easy, but it’s possible. Try shifting from a mindset of protection to one of partnership.
- Let your loved one make daily choices with what to wear, what to eat, what to watch.
- Use adaptive tools and smart devices to create safer environments without taking away autonomy.
- Redefine success: it’s not about doing everything for them but doing everything with them.
The goal? To help older adults maintain dignity and purpose, while giving caregivers a little more breathing room and peace of mind.
The Emotional Side of Caregiving
We often talk about caregiving in terms of logistics with appointments, meals, medications…but it’s also deeply emotional work.
You may find yourself:
- Feeling isolated, even when surrounded by family.
- Carrying guilt for needing a break.
- Struggling to focus on your own health and joy.
- Torn between respecting your loved one’s independence and ensuring their safety – a constant and often painful balancing act.
If that sounds familiar, know this: you’re not failing…you’re human.
Connection is one of the best antidotes. Even a 10-minute phone call or shared laugh can refill your emotional tank. Small acts of self-care (stepping outside, stretching, journaling) can make a big difference over time. Talking to other caregivers can also provide perspective and a shared sense of understanding.
What Caregivers Need Most (And What’s Changing)
The caregiving movement is finally getting attention and momentum. Workplaces are rethinking flexibility, policymakers are exploring paid leave and tax credits, and more organizations are offering respite care and education programs.
At Asbury, we see caregiving as a shared journey. When we support caregivers (family and professional alike) we create healthier, happier communities for everyone.
A Daily Practice to Sustain You
Try this: at the end of each day, take a two-minute pause.
Ask yourself:
- “How am I feeling–really?”
- “What’s one thing I did today that mattered?”
- “What’s one thing I can let go of tonight?”
Even small pauses can bring back perspective and calm. They remind us that caregiving isn’t just about giving care; it’s about sustaining care, too.
Your Caregiver Takeaway Checklist
- Connect weekly with someone who understands your journey.
- Take a daily pause—even 2 minutes counts.
- Ask for help early and often; caregiving is a team effort.
- Encourage independence where possible because it builds dignity and confidence.
- Explore workplace or community supports like respite care, counseling, or flexible hours.
- Celebrate small wins…they matter more than you think!
Why It Matters at Asbury
Across Asbury Communities, we see caregiving every day–in families, in staff, and in neighbors helping neighbors. Supporting caregivers means supporting the heart of our mission: to help all people age with meaning, purpose, and grace.
So, if you’re reading this and thinking, “That sounds like me,” remember, you’re not alone. You’re part of something bigger. And you’re doing something extraordinary. Thank you for caring.
By Dr. Sue Paul OTR/L, Sr. Dir. Well-being & Brain Health, Asbury Communities