A caregiver’s survival guide: Advice from people who’ve been there

Kat McGowan | October 18, 2025

An illustration of speech bubbles in a starry dark sky, with images of people helping each other in each of them.

If you’re a caregiver for an ill or elderly adult, you’re not alone. Millions of others are right there with you. They know how rough it can be, and they want to share their wisdom.

When NPR asked caregivers to share their stories, nearly 600 responded with practical advice, hair-raising stories and plenty of hard-won expertise. (Share your own story here.)

As one put it: “Dear whatever doesn’t kill me, I’m strong enough now. Thanks.”

There are seasons in caregiving — long stretches where things are relatively stable and phases of turmoil, when everything is happening at once. These suggestions can help you cope through the crises and the quiet times.

Navigate the following chapters for camaraderie and wise words from people who know what you’re going through.

The medical maze: How to help your person through it

One of the first tasks adult caregivers face is learning the ropes of the crazy U.S. health care system. You’re likely becoming both a patient advocate and a medical coordinator — two jobs with steep learning curves. Here’s what other caregivers have learned.

The new normal: This isn’t the life I planned. How do I adjust?

Caregiving is now your new normal. But fully accepting and adjusting to this changed reality can take a while. Often, it comes in waves — periods of calm interrupted by wild turmoil. Here are tips for enduring these times.

Help! How to ask for (and accept) support

The No. 1 piece of advice from other caregivers: Get help, whether from a support group, a friend, other family, a therapist, your church, or all of the above. Caregiving is too hard and too isolating to do it on your own. As one caregiver put it, most people start the job as if it were a sprint and only slowly realize they’re in a marathon. Try these caregivers’ tips for getting the help you need.

Self-care: It’s essential and it’s not what you think 

It’s not spa days and yoga classes. Real self-care means learning how to protect your mental and physical health despite the crushing demands on your time. Often, that starts with setting boundaries and forgiving yourself. Explore what’s worked for other caregivers.

Your new relationship: Dealing with a changing dynamic

You’re no longer just a partner, spouse, parent or child. Now, you’re also a caregiver, and that changes your relationship with your loved one in ways that can be hard to detect and difficult to adjust to. These caregivers explain how they navigated the change.

Explore more resources

Taking on a family caregiving role can be overwhelming. Luckily there are organizations and resources out there to give you a helping hand. Here are some pointers and places to start.

 

How Alabama Power kept bills up and opposition out to become one of the most powerful utilities in the country

In one of the poorest states in America, the local utility earns massive profits producing dirty energy with almost no pushback from state regulators.

No more Elmo? APT could cut ties with PBS

The board that oversees Alabama Public Television is considering disaffiliating from PBS, ending a 55-year relationship.

Nonprofit erases millions in medical debt across Gulf South, says it’s ‘Band-Aid’ for real issue

Undue Medical Debt has paid off more than $299 million in medical debts in Alabama. Now, the nonprofit warns that the issue could soon get worse.

Roy Wood Jr. on his father, his son and his new book

Actor, comedian and writer Roy Wood Jr. is out with a new book -- "The Man of Many Fathers: Life Lessons Disguised as a Memoir." He writes about his experience growing up in Birmingham, losing his dad as a teenager and all the lessons he learned from various father figures throughout his career.

Auburn fires coach Hugh Freeze following 12th loss in his last 15 SEC games

The 56-year-old Freeze failed to fix Auburn’s offensive issues in three years on the Plains, scoring 24 or fewer points in 17 of his 22 league games. He also ended up on the wrong end of too many close matchups, including twice this season thanks partly to questionable calls.

In a ‘disheartening’ era, the nation’s former top mining regulator speaks out

Joe Pizarchik, who led the federal Office of Surface Mining Reclamation and Enforcement from 2009 to 2017, says Alabama’s move in the wake of a fatal 2024 home explosion increases risks to residents living atop “gassy” coal mines.

More Front Page Coverage