Caring for an Older Loved One

Caregiving doesn’t pause after November — and neither does the importance of staying connected to the right support. Plug-in to Care helps caregivers find trusted information, supportive communities, and practical tools that make each day a little more manageable. Whether you’re caring for a loved one this holiday season or any time of year, connection can make all the difference.

The Caregiver’s Role

As our loved ones age, many will face a combination of chronic conditions, mobility changes, cognitive shifts, sensory decline, or multiple health challenges. Caring for an older adult often involves balancing medical support, daily living help, safety modifications, emotional companionship, and planning for transitions. Given the complex nature of aging, caregivers benefit from both practical tools and policy-level supports.

Top 3 Things Caregivers Should Know

Care Needs Can Be Multifaceted and Variable

Older adults frequently have more than one health condition—diabetes, heart disease, arthritis, cognitive impairment, vision or hearing loss. Caregivers often must manage complex medication regimens, coordinate multiple providers, respond to acute changes, and adapt to evolving functional abilities.

Preventing Crisis Through Planning & Support Is Key

Proactively arranging home safety modifications, care transitions, advance planning (legal, financial, health), and building a support network helps avoid unnecessary hospitalizations or caregiving overload.

Caregivers Must Care for Themselves, Too

Long-term caregiving can lead to stress, burnout, social isolation, and health decline. Taking breaks (respite), seeking peer support, using navigation services, and setting realistic boundaries are essential for sustainability.

Caregiving Resources

Partner Resources

USAging:

> Caregiver Supports & Services — USAging supports Area Agencies on Aging (AAAs) and the Aging Network to deliver services like respite care, caregiver education, counseling, emergency assistance, and caregiver navigation programs.

> Caregiver Navigation — Efforts to help caregivers access the right services at the right time.

> Caregiver Services & Supports Innovations Hub — Repository and exchange of promising programs across the aging network.
ARCH National Respite Network and Resources Center: ARCH helps develop respite programs, locate respite providers, and provide training and resources.

> National Respite Locator Service — A tool to find respite services in your state/local area.

> ARCH Respite Resource Library — Respite planning, adult day services info, links to caregiver tools.
National Family Caregiver Support Program (NFCSP): ACL Administration for Community Living — A federal program under the Older Americans Act that supports caregivers of older adults by funding services such as education, respite, counseling, and supplemental services.
National Institute on Aging’s “What is Respite Care?” — Short-term relief for caregivers is a critical lifeline. Respite may take place in-home, through adult day centers, or overnight stays in facilities.

Caregiver Action Network

Plug-in to Care: Stay Connected

Caregiving can be complex, but you don’t have to face it alone. Plug-in to Care by connecting with trusted resources, supportive communities, and tools that help you care for your loved one — and yourself — throughout the holiday season and beyond.