Where Are You in Your Caregiving Situation?¶
What you need as a caregiver depends on where you are right now. Find the guide that matches your situation.
Practical guidance covers getting organized, sharing the work, and adapting as needs change1. Support needs continue after caregiving ends2. The guides below follow that arc.
Common questions¶
What help can I get as a caregiver? Start here if you need the broad map: local navigation, respite, help at home, benefits, work protection, and crisis support.
How do I know if caregiver stress is too high? Warning signs that the current setup is no longer sustainable, plus immediate support paths if safety is at risk.
What benefits can family caregivers use? Caregiver support programs, Medicaid home-care pathways, self-direction, leave, veterans benefits, and household assistance.
ALS¶
ALS: Planning Ahead for the Next Change A practical checklist for communication, mobility, swallowing, breathing, equipment, caregiver capacity, and backup care.
ALS Support in Greater New York ALS United Greater New York services, equipment and clinic routes, caregiver support, state navigation, and federal benefits orientation.
Getting started¶
I just became a caregiver The first 30 days. What to do first, what can wait, and who to call.
In the middle of it¶
I'm managing daily care You've been doing this for a while. How to keep yourself going, catch your own wellbeing getting worse over time, and know when to ask for more help.
I'm managing medications at home Keeping a current medication list, asking the pharmacist, and storing and disposing of medicines safely.
I'm worried about falls Making home safer, what to do after a fall, and when to get help.
Sleep is a problem Your own sleep, night waking, and sundowning in dementia.
I'm caring for someone with incontinence Telling the doctor, toileting routines, and protecting the skin.
I'm working while caregiving Balancing a job with caregiving. Your rights under FMLA, how to talk to your employer, and programs that help.
I'm caregiving from far away You're not in the same city as the person you're caring for. Coordination, local resources, when to visit, and managing the guilt of distance.
During a crisis¶
Something just happened A fall, a hospitalization, a sudden change. Emergency resources and what to do in the first 24 hours.
Approaching the end¶
We're approaching end of life Hospice, palliative care, advance directives, family conversations, and preparing for what comes next.
After caregiving¶
Caregiving has ended Grief, identity, re-entering the workforce, and finding what comes next for you.
These guides cover the most common situations. For resources specific to a particular condition, see Caregiving by Condition. For help with a specific area of your life, see Understanding Your Situation.