Caring for a loved one can be meaningful and deeply fulfilling, but it can also take an emotional and physical toll. If you regularly help someone you love with transportation, meals, medications, mobility, emotional support, or care coordination, you are a family caregiver. And while you may give your time and energy freely, it’s common for your own needs to fall to the bottom of the list.
“You can only give so much of yourself before you start to feel depleted,” says Christine Bracey, MSW, LSW, Shore’s administrative director of care management. “Caregivers often don’t realize how tired they are until they’re overwhelmed. That’s why reaching out for support early can make such a powerful difference.”
Family caregivers support loved ones facing a wide range of health challenges—chronic illnesses such as diabetes, heart disease, and arthritis; neurological conditions like Alzheimer’s, Parkinson’s, and multiple sclerosis; and acute issues including cancer, stroke, or recovery after surgery. They also assist those living with mental health conditions, disabilities, or the general frailty that can come with aging. Their role may be short-term, helping someone heal after an injury, or long-term, providing ongoing care for a progressive condition.
Start Here: Shore’s Center for Family Caregivers
Shore Medical Center proudly created the Center for Family Caregivers to help caregivers manage both the daily responsibilities and the emotional strain that caregiving brings. We provide you with free access to our Caregiver Coaches Monday through Friday, 9:30 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. They are trained to listen, guide, and help you create practical strategies to make caregiving more sustainable.
“When caregivers come to us, they often say the same thing: ‘I didn’t know how much I needed this,’” says Bracey. “We’re here to make sure they have the tools, support, and a plan that eases their burden.”
How Shore Caregiver Coaches Can Help
Our Caregiver Coaches work alongside you to create simple, realistic changes that help you feel more grounded and supported. They understand the pressures caregivers face and help you build routines, identify resources, and regain a sense of control.
Here are just a few of the strategies they can help you implement:
- Scheduling breaks you’ll actually take. Even five minutes for stretching or fresh air can interrupt stress and help reset your energy.
- Preparing a help list. Many caregivers freeze when someone offers help. Your coach will help you identify tasks, like errands, meal prep, or transportation, that others can easily take on.
- Learning to accept help sooner. Our coaches help caregivers shift from “I can do it all” to “I don’t have to do it all.”
- Strengthening your support circle. This includes choosing people you trust to listen, help with tasks, or simply check in regularly.
- Recommitting to your own health. That may mean scheduling a long-overdue doctor’s visit, counseling session, or wellness appointment.
“These may sound like small changes, but they’re life-changing when you’re caring for someone around the clock,” says Bracey. “We tailor everything to the caregiver’s real day-to-day life. Nothing is one-size-fits-all.”
Community Support You May Not Know Exists
One of the biggest challenges caregivers face is not knowing where to turn for help. Our Caregiver Coaches are experts at uncovering supports you may not realize you qualify for, and helping you access them without added stress.
“We spend a lot of time helping caregivers understand their options,” says Bracey. “There are local programs, respite opportunities, and services available, but caregivers are often too overwhelmed to track them down. That’s where we step in.”
Coaches can help you learn about respite care, adult day programs, home health services, and other supports that can lighten the load, even a few hours at a time. They can also guide you in making decisions, completing paperwork, or talking through difficult situations so you feel less alone and more empowered.
Resources at Shore and in the Community
At Shore, we’re proud to not only offer our Center for Family Caregivers, but also a monthly in-person support group for caregivers of people with Alzheimer’s disease and dementia, held the second Tuesday of each month from 4-5 pm, in partnership with the Alzheimer’s Association of the Delaware Valley. The support group has become a wonderful way for caregivers to learn and to connect with others who understand what they’re going through. Our next session is Tuesday, December 9, 4-5pm. Learn more and register here.
Below are just some of the many outside resources our Caregiver Coaches may recommend:
- Jersey Assistance for Community Caregiving (JACC): This state-funded program provides in-home services for seniors at risk of nursing home placement. Services include homemaker assistance, respite care, home modification, and transportation.
- Statewide Respite Care Program: This program provides respite care services in order to relieve caregivers of stress from providing daily care. This respite may be provided for a short time, or once in a while.
- Atlantic County Division of Intergenerational Services: This division can provide information on resources for all caregivers, including respite care, adult day care, and the Personal Assistance Services Program (PASP) for adults with physical disabilities.
- Condition-specific support groups – Alzheimer’s, Parkinson’s, stroke, and other chronic illness groups (virtual and in-person).
- Faith and community organizations – meal trains, friendly visitors, and volunteer support.
- Adult day programs and home health services – even a few hours per week can provide much-needed respite.
Take the Next Step
You don’t have to carry the weight of caregiving alone. Support is available, and reaching out today can help you feel more confident, balanced, and supported as you care for someone you love. Contact Shore’s Center for Family Caregivers at 609-653-3969 or thecenterforfamilycaregivers@shoremedicalcenter.org. You deserve support. You deserve rest. And you deserve help.
