01
Early signs to take seriously
- Feeling on call all the time
- Dreading the phone ringing
- Snapping at family, then feeling guilty
- Dropping your own appointments and friendships
02
Make the invisible work visible
Write down everything you do in a week — calls, rides, refills, bills, worrying. Most families have never seen the full list. Seeing it makes it easier for others to take a piece.
03
Hand off specific tasks
- “Can you take the Tuesday and Thursday calls?”
- “Can you handle the pharmacy refills?”
- “Can you cover the week I'm away?”
04
Protect a little time for yourself
Block one regular slot each week that's yours. If you're struggling with your own health or mood, talk to your doctor — caring for yourself is part of caring for them.
Share-the-load checklist
- Weekly task list written down
- Each task has a name next to it
- Backup person for each task
- One protected hour a week for the main caregiver
- Monthly family check-in scheduled
How Porchlight helps
- Takes the daily check-in call off one person's plate
- Everyone in the Family Circle reads the same summary, so no one has to relay updates
- Reminders and follow-ups are shared instead of living in one person's head
Free tool
Caregiver Load Check
Six quick questions to see how heavy your caregiving load is right now.
Try itThis guide is general information, not medical advice. For health concerns, contact a doctor. In an emergency, call 911.