Setting a steady pace

Learn to win the caregiving marathon, one step at a time

By Betsy Butler, Ohio Public Employees Retirement System

April 29, 2026 – Whether caring for children, aging parents, or someone dealing with health challenges, caregivers are often the unsung heroes of a difficult chapter of life.

Keeping track of appointments, managing medications, making phone calls, handling paperwork and juggling logistics can make you feel like you’re running a marathon with no end in sight.

Taking care of others at a constant pace can suddenly become a stumbling block. When something breaks, everything can give way.  At once, your ability to cope – indeed, your entire life – seems like it has disappeared.

That’s why it’s critical to protect and prepare yourself for the long haul.

Caregiving is isolating, stressful, exhausting and overwhelming, especially when you didn’t choose this vocation. It has a way of making you feel like you have to manage the weight of everything yourself. You weren’t meant to navigate this unfamiliar territory on your own. You have to try to find other ways to carry what you cannot.

Looking at your support network is a good start. One supportive person doesn’t usually meet every one of your needs, but you can probably identify several people who could be willing to help. Consider those relatives and friends who can help with practical things like chores and shopping, others who are good at giving advice and discussing issues, and those who can offer welcome distractions like taking a walk, sharing a meal or planning for a regular phone conversation. If help from loved ones is not available, identify community and volunteer organizations that can assist. Although it may be difficult to ask for help, social engagement can make a significant positive impact on well-being and reduce feelings of isolation.

Support can take other forms. Attend in-person or virtual support group meetings, allowing for sharing experiences with others who understand. Utilize temporary respite care services that can allow caregivers to rest and re-energize, even if just for a few hours. Seek professional counseling to manage anxiety and provide coping strategies.

Burnout is a caregiver’s worst enemy. Watch for signs like chronic fatigue, irritability and depression, and seek help immediately when these occur. Get in the habit of asking for help as soon as you need it. Don’t wait until a situation becomes unmanageable.

Caregivers frequently face a rollercoaster of emotions, including feelings of loss, guilt, anger and loneliness. These feelings are normal, and it’s critical to acknowledge and respond to them so you can continue your calling with strength and grace. When things get especially challenging, pause for a moment. Consider whether you have enough patience, empathy and even humor to forge ahead, or whether it’s better to give yourself some time to collect your thoughts and emotions. Protect the person you love, and yourself, from a moment going wrong. Ensure that the moment goes how you’d like it to go when you’re rested, positive and proud of what you’re doing. After the moment passes, consider making a game plan for the future so that those feelings of being overwhelmed, fed up, anxious and afraid stop catching you off guard and start signaling how you can move forward with peace and positivity.

Taking care of yourself is key. Maintain healthy eating habits, exercise regularly and get as much rest as you can. Seek out time for yourself, pursuing something you enjoy. When you’re feeling overwhelmed, practice deep breathing techniques, meditation and prayer to slow your heart rate, calm you down and help you think more clearly.

Finally, listen to podcasts from fellow caregivers and knowledgeable experts, such as Twenty-Four Seven: A Podcast About Caregiving from Texas Public Radio, the Dementia Care Partner Talk Show Podcastwith dementia educator Teepa Snow, and the Happy Healthy Caregiver Podcast with Certified Caregiving Consultant Elizabeth Miller.

Without moments that offer respite and perspective, this season can quietly turn once-loving relationships into feelings of resentment, exhaustion and regret. That’s the last thing you want for the present, and how you’ll remember it once it concludes.

When you look back on this season someday, it won’t be the tasks you remember. It will be the unexpected moments where you realize that caring for your loved one was a special gift. This season offers an opportunity to build the interior strength that the hard days demand, feel pride in what you’re doing, and look forward in hope to the future.