Relieving Family Burden with Professional In-Home Support

Caring for an aging parent or a family member with disabilities can be a deeply rewarding act of love, but it often requires significant emotional, physical, and financial sacrifices. In the United States, over 63 million adults are caregivers for a spouse, elderly parent, relative, or special-needs child, and over 40% of caregivers provide high-intensity care.¹

Many are “sandwiched” between caregiving and career or other family duties, especially during back-to-school season for those taking care of aging parents while caring for children of their own. And it’s no surprise that this workload takes a toll.

A recent AARP report found that:¹

1 in 5 caregivers report poor health
1 in 5 caregivers cannot afford basic needs like food
1 in 4 caregivers take on debt due to caregiving
1 in 2 caregivers report negative financial impact due to caregiving

Learn how professional in-home care can support families with much-needed relief while allowing loved ones to live and age comfortably at home.

The Heavy Burden of Family Caregiving

Family caregivers often find themselves working what amounts to another full-time job on top of their own lives. On average, caregivers spend 27 hours a week providing care.² Handling everything from household chores and meals to managing medications, transportation, finances, and medical appointments for loved ones all leads to physical and mental strain that can cause exhaustion, isolation, burnout, or even feelings of guilt.

For those providing care alone or from far away, the challenges are even greater. Not every family has a network of siblings or relatives to share tasks, so adult children may find themselves as the sole caregiver for an aging parent.

Many caregivers neglect their own health, which means caregivers are at increased risk for having multiple chronic diseases; nearly 2 in 5 caregivers have at least two chronic diseases of their own.³ Clearly, the burden of caring for a loved one at home, especially without outside support, can push families to their limits.

The Emotional Toll: Exhaustion, Isolation & Guilt

Beyond the time and physical demands, family caregivers often carry a heavy emotional load. It’s common to feel chronic fatigue and to be stretched thin, but caregivers may also experience deep feelings of loneliness and loss of self. Devoting so much of your life to someone else’s care can make you feel like you’re putting your own goals, social life, and identity on hold.

MUSC clinical psychologist Dr. Rebecca Kilpatrick says:

“Caregiving is a very isolating experience for many people. One thing that can make that worse is having thoughts or feelings of guilt or shame, maybe even resentment towards the person you're caring for, or just feeling like you want to walk away from the responsibilities altogether. These are very normal thoughts and experiences to happen.”⁴

If you sometimes feel guilty, frustrated, or even resentful in your role, you are not alone and you’re not a bad person for feeling that way. These emotions are a natural response to a difficult situation. Caregivers should remember that taking care of yourself is not selfis—it’s essential. In fact, connecting with support groups or counseling can help validate these emotions and provide coping strategies. Sometimes simply knowing that most caregivers share these struggles can be a relief in itself.

Why Families Hesitate to Seek In-Home Care

Even when the need is clear, many families hesitate to bring in professional caregivers. This hesitation often stems from emotions and misconceptions rather than practicality:

Loss of Privacy & Independence

Some families worry that inviting a professional into the home will disrupt daily life or take away the independence of their loved one. In reality, professional caregivers are trained to respect personal space and routines, stepping in only where help is needed so independence is preserved.

Feelings of Guilt

Caregivers often feel that accepting outside help means they’ve failed in their role. Adult children may feel that they “should” be able to handle everything on their own, and parents of adults with disabilities may feel guilty about “handing over” care to someone else. But in-home care is not about replacing the family’s role; it’s about sharing the responsibility so caregivers can be healthier, more present, and more connected with their loved ones.

Trust & Safety Concerns

It’s natural to be protective. Families sometimes hesitate because they’re unsure if a caregiver will provide the same level of compassion, patience, and attentiveness they would. By working with a reputable in-home care agency, families gain vetted, trained professionals whose goal is to provide the same dignity and safety they would want for their own loved ones.

Fear of Change

Inviting in-home care represents a big shift. Families who have been “doing it all” may worry about losing routines they’ve carefully built. Seniors themselves may resist, insisting they don’t need help, which can create family tension. The reality is that in-home care can be tailored to fit existing routines, adding support gradually so both the family and the loved one can adjust comfortably.

Stigma & Pride

For some, there’s a stigma attached to seeking outside help as if it’s admitting defeat. Others simply have pride in being self-sufficient, whether it’s the senior who doesn’t want to “be a burden” on others or the caregiver who feels they must shoulder everything alone. Framing in-home care as a way to strengthen, not weaken, family caregiving helps families see it as an empowering choice that protects everyone’s well-being.

Living at Home vs. Facility-Based Care

When care needs become overwhelming, families often consider outside solutions. For older adults, that may mean a move to an assisted living facility or nursing home. For adults with disabilities, options may include residential group homes or specialized facilities. In either case, the alternative is bringing in professional help to continue care at home.

It’s a difficult decision, and many family caregivers feel guilty at the thought of moving a loved one into an institutional setting. The truth is, most people, whether seniors or individuals with disabilities, strongly prefer to remain in their own homes if possible.

That desire to live in familiar surroundings with family, pets, and personal routines intact has been consistent for years. Moving to a facility can be emotionally distressing, as it often means giving up independence and the comfort of a known environment. Families also worry about the quality of one-on-one attention in facilities and the potential loss of personal dignity.

In-home care offers a solution that addresses these concerns. Instead of uprooting a loved one, professional caregivers bring support services directly to where the individual already lives. This approach respects the person’s wish to remain at home while relieving families of the stress of providing care on their own.

Services can range from assistance with daily activities (bathing, dressing, meals, medication reminders) to companionship, therapy exercises, and even skilled nursing care, all delivered in the comfort of home.

How Professional In-Home Care Provides Relief

Bringing in a professional caregiver through an in-home care agency can be life-changing for families. In-home support lightens the load by addressing both daily responsibilities and emotional strain, helping caregivers protect their own well-being while ensuring loved ones receive quality care.

Offers hands-on help with personal care, meals, and household tasks
Allows family caregivers to take regular respite breaks and recharge
Brings expertise in aging and disability care, reducing accidents and stress
Facilitates consistent monitoring of safety, medications, and nutrition
Lessens the constant worry families feel about loved ones’ well-being
Reduces caregiver stress and exhaustion by sharing responsibilities
Delivers companionship and social interaction for the care recipient
Keeps long-distance families reassured through regular updates
Helps solo caregivers feel supported instead of alone
Strengthens family relationships by freeing time for meaningful connection

Restoring Balance & Well-Being for Families

Ultimately, engaging professional in-home care is about restoring balance and protecting the mental health of family caregivers. It’s a form of self-care for the caregiver: by accepting help, you can reclaim time for your own needs – whether that’s getting a full night’s sleep, going to your own medical appointments, or simply having an afternoon to relax and recharge.

Relieved of round-the-clock duties, you may find you have more patience and energy to truly connect with your loved one during the time you do spend together. Many adult children discover that with a professional handling the caregiving tasks, they can go back to being “the daughter or son” again instead of always the nurse, cook, or maid. This can improve the relationship quality and emotional bond between you and your aging parent.

It’s okay to acknowledge that you need help; as the saying goes, you can’t pour from an empty cup. Bringing in qualified in-home caregivers is a compassionate choice that benefits the whole family. With the help of professional caregivers like the team at Comfort Keepers, families can navigate the challenges of caregiving without sacrificing their own health and happiness.

Bottom line: You don’t have to do this all by yourself. Contact Comfort Keepers today for more information on exploring in-home care services, including capabilities and costs.

Sources:

1. Caregiving in the US 2025, AARP

2. Caregiving in the US Research Report, AARP & National Alliance for Caregiving

3. Dementia Caregiving as a Public Health Strategy, CDC

4. Ask A Psychologist: Navigating Caregiver Burnout, MUSC Health