Around 53 million American adults were unpaid caregivers in 2020, according to the National Alliance for Caregiving and AARP Public Policy Institute. The majority (89%) were caregivers for someone related to them, including half of the group caring for a parent.1
Caregivers regularly experience burnout. Studies indicate more than 60% of caregivers experience symptoms of burnout.2
Responses to the National Alliance for Caregiving and AARP Public Policy Institute survey, include:3
- 40% of caregivers felt emotionally stressed.
- Nearly 20% said it caused financial problems.
- About 20% felt physically strained.
Caregiver burnout is a state of exhaustion – including physical, emotional and mental fatigue – that occurs when someone is caring for another person. Stressed caregivers may experience weariness, anxiety and depression.4
Caregivers may reduce the risk of burnout by participating in respite care, joining a support group or talking with a mental health professional. Read on to learn more.
Who is a caregiver?
A caregiver is a person who provides physical or emotional care to someone else. Caregivers help others who aren’t able to fully function on their own because of an illness, injury or an underlying medical condition.
The role of a caregiver may include:5
- Helping with going to the bathroom, getting dressed or brushing hair.
- Cooking meals, cleaning and other housework.
- Managing medication.
- Handling finances.
- Monitoring health.
- Communicating with healthcare providers and advocating for the patient’s needs.
The caregiver’s main goal is to support the health and safety of the person in their care.
What is caregiver burnout?
Caregiver burnout is a feeling of being overwhelmed with extreme tiredness to the point of near collapse. Caretaker burnout happens when dedicating time and energy to manage the health and safety of another person.
Caregivers experiencing burnout may be emotionally anxious, withdrawn, fatigued and depressed. Caregiver stress and burnout may negatively impact a person physically, psychologically, financially and socially.6
Symptoms of caregiver burnout
The signs and symptoms of caregiver burnout coincide with feeling stressed or depressed, such as:7
- Being emotionally and physically exhausted.
- Withdrawing from friends and loved ones.
- Losing interest in activities previously enjoyed.
- Fluctuating weight and appetite.
- Changing sleep patterns.
- Getting sick more often.
- Being more frustrated or angry.
By paying attention to signs of caregiver burnout, the caretaker can take proactive steps to improve the situation.
Causes of caregiver burnout
When caregivers feel there are too many demands on their time, attention and energy, they experience caregiver fatigue.
Key factors contributing to caregiver burnout include:8
- Lack of clarity and confusion about roles. It’s often difficult to separate the caregiver role from their identity as a spouse, child or friend to the person being cared for. When multiple family members are assisting the loved one, there’s often a lack of clarity about each person’s role.
- Multiple priorities and expectations. While caregivers believe they’ll have a positive effect on the health and comfort of the person in their care, the reality is the caretaker role is challenging. It’s difficult balancing the varying priorities and expectations.
- Absence of control. Caregivers may feel frustrated by their lack of skills, resources and finances necessary to effectively plan and manage a loved one’s care.
- Overwhelming responsibilities. Especially for primary caregivers, they may feel like they’re on a hamster wheel, running fast without making progress. Caregivers may take on too much and don’t feel they can seek support to accomplish their responsibilities.
- Oblivious to feelings of burnout. As they juggle multiple responsibilities, caregivers may not recognize caretaker burnout symptoms. Without intervention, caregiver fatigue continues to worsen, which may impact the caregiver’s health and their ability to provide adequate care for their loved one.
- Clashing policies and procedures. Healthcare providers and agencies may have differing policies and procedures. As they advocate for their loved one, caregivers may have an added burden of wading through paperwork, online forms and communications with various healthcare systems.9
- Diminished privacy. Because people are coming and going in the home to assist the loved one, the caregiver may have no time to be alone.10
How is caregiver burnout assessed?
If a caregiver has 1 or more of the caretaker burnout symptoms listed above, they’re encouraged to visit a healthcare provider or a mental health professional for assessment and treatment options. Comprehensive assessments should include an evaluation of mental and physical health symptoms.11
The American Medical Association also offers a self-assessment to determine if the caregiver is burnt out.12
During the visit with a healthcare professional, caregivers will be asked how they’re doing and feeling. Since there are no blood tests or imaging required for diagnosis, caregivers are urged to be transparent and forthcoming about their emotions, challenges, stress level, anxiety and depression.13
How is caregiver burnout treated?
Addressing caregiver burnout will require multiple strategies to enhance self-awareness and support self-care. Here are simple steps to help manage caregiver burnout:14
- Reach out to a healthcare provider. Speaking with a healthcare professional provides an expert perspective for the caregiver. When caregivers are in the middle of overwhelming situations, emotions and stress levels are heightened. Talking to a social worker, psychologist or mental health professional offers a safe way to release deep feelings.
- Prioritize self-care. By taking care of themselves, caregivers will be strengthened to take care of others. Eat healthy meals and get enough sleep. Exercise maintains physical fitness and lifts spirits.
- Get help. Caregivers may not recognize the network of support around them because they don’t want to accept help. Family members and friends are usually happy to help with running errands, picking up groceries and helping around the house when asked.
- Identify local resources. Look for organizations within the community that offer services and support, including in-home care, adult day care centers or community meal programs. Healthcare providers are able to connect caregivers with support groups and other resources.
How long does it take to recover from caregiver burnout? Recovering from burnout starts with recognizing the symptoms and getting necessary support. Because each caregiver situation is unique, some caretakers can recover within several days or weeks, while others may take months to reduce stress levels and increase their vitality and sense of purpose and well-being.15
Accessing respite care
Respite care is a temporary break for primary caregivers. Ranging from a few hours, a few days or several weeks, accessing respite care may help balance between the primary caregivers’ responsibilities and their personal lives. Community organizations offer respite care services. The ARCH National Respite Network and Resource Center has an online portal to access a national respite care locator service.16
Types of respite care include:17
- In-home respite. Healthcare aides go to the home to provide nursing services or keep the loved one company or both.
- Adult care centers and programs. Day care centers may include older adults, as well as young children, allowing the two groups to spend time together.
- Short-term nursing homes. Check with assisted living centers, memory care facilities and nursing homes, which may accept people who need care for short stays while caregivers are away.
Choosing a nursing home or alternate living arrangements
When the loved one requires more advanced services and professional healthcare, the caregiver and other family members may need to find alternative living arrangements.
When should a caregiver stop giving care at home? Key indications that more advanced care is needed:18
- Inability to go to the bathroom or bathe themselves.
- Poor sleep patterns.
- Feeling agitated.
- Frequent wandering.
Depending on the level of care required, options include intermediate nursing care, skilled nursing care, subacute nursing units, assisted living facilities, board and care homes and continuing care retirement communities.19
Resources to help caregiver burnout
The caregiver can get a break and focus on self-care by accessing these services:20
- Home health services. Short-term care from agencies providing health aides and nurses.
- Adult day care. Programs for adults over 65 to socialize through fun, engaging activities. The centers also offer medical care and other services.
- Nursing homes or assisted living facilities. Check with local facilities that may offer short-term care.
- Private care aides. Professionals specializing in assessing patients’ conditions and coordinating care and services.
- Caregiver support services. Support groups and other programs that facilitate meeting others coping with similar circumstances. They offer information about certain health conditions and provide other resources.
- Agency of Aging. Local chapters offer adult care services, caregiver support groups and respite care.
- National organizations. Caregivers supporting those with specific conditions and diseases, such as specific cancers, Parkinson’s or Alzheimer’s disease can access support and information.
Healthline offers a list of resources and support, from Alzheimer’s Association and American Cancer Society to Caregiver Action Network and Social Security Administration.21
HelpGuide.org provides resources and links to caregiver support groups, including local and online groups of caregivers.22
Preventing caregiver burnout
While a certain amount of stress may be unavoidable in a person’s life, caregiver burnout can be minimized and prevented by following these guidelines:23
- Find a trusted person. Expressing feelings and frustrations with a friend, family member or mental health professional helps caregivers to better manage their emotions and expectations.
- Create realistic goals. Caregivers must accept that they may need assistance to balance multiple responsibilities caring for a loved one, as well as work, their own needs and family obligations.
- Learn more about caregiving. Get knowledge and training needed for the caregiver role. Connect with educational material and tools specific to the loved one’s condition and special requirements.
- Prioritize self-care. As the airline industry advises, “Put your oxygen mask on before helping others.” Caregivers are encouraged to take care of themselves to be an even better caregiver for others.
- Eat a healthy diet. Well-balanced meals will keep up energy and long-term health for the caregiver.
- Accept negative feelings. Periodic feelings of frustration and anger are normal. But when emotions and stress become overwhelming, the caregiver is advised to reach out for help.
- Feel appreciated. Caregivers who feel appreciated are healthier both physically and emotionally, according to studies.24 Some ideas for caregivers to feel more appreciated include applauding their own efforts, talking with a supportive family member or friend, and imagining how the loved one would respond to the caregiver if they were healthy.25
Recovering from caregiver burnout
Recovering from caregiver burnout takes time and patience. In addition to self-care techniques, caregivers can participate in group or talk therapy, practice meditation and access respite care. Resources are available for caregivers when they’re emboldened to reach out for help.
Tips to help with recovering from caregiver burnout:26
- Maintaining personal relationships.
- Sharing feelings.
- Prioritizing enjoyable activities.
- Being pampered.
- Laughing.
- Getting out of the house.
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16“National Respite Care Locator Service,” ARCH National Respite Network and Resource Center, last accessed October 17, 2023,
17“Caregiver stress: Tips for taking care of yourself,” Mayo Clinic, last accessed October 17, 2023,
18“Caregiver Guide: Choosing A Nursing Home,” HealthinAging.org, last accessed October 17, 2023,
19“Caregiver Guide: Choosing A Nursing Home.”
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22“Caregiver Stress and Burnout,” HelpGuid.org, last accessed October 17, 2023,
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This information is provided for educational purposes only. It is not to be used for medical advice, diagnosis or treatment. Consult your healthcare provider if you have questions or concerns.
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