You may expect that when your parent moves into a senior care community, your caregiving role and stress will significantly decrease. Yet many caregivers are caught by surprise when the phone calls, appointments, errands, and emotional weight continue. You may continue to feel overwhelmed and burned out. By knowing where to turn for caregiver support, you can create a healthier balance for both you and your parent. This article will show you how to lean on resources, build teamwork with staff, and care for yourself along the way.

Common caregiver responsibilities

Even after a parent moves to a senior care community like assisted living or a nursing home, the caregiving demands continue. You may still find yourself:

• Managing medical care, including keeping track of providers, appointments, medications, and follow-ups.
• Handling transportation, whether driving to appointments or coordinating rides.
• Paying bills and managing finances.
• Running errands like picking up groceries, personal items, or prescriptions.
• Planning social visits with friends and family, as well as visiting yourself.
• Answering frequent phone calls or messages from your parent, providers, or community staff.
• Monitoring and worrying about your parent’s well-being.

On top of these responsibilities, you may be struggling with various emotions, such as:

• Guilt when you don’t meet every request your parent makes.
• Worry about whether you’re doing enough.
• Stress over the constant pressure to “be there.”
• Resentment toward your parent for their continued dependence on you.
• Confusion about how to incorporate more support from the community into your parent’s life.

It may still feel like you’re carrying too much. Fortunately, there are services and resources that can help ease your role and create a more sustainable balance. Here are several ways to take advantage of the caregiver support available.

Find caregiver support in senior care facility amenities and services

Many senior care communities provide a wide range of services that families may not realize exist or that parents may hesitate to use. By tapping into these services, you can shift some of your caregiving responsibilities to the community’s team. Doing so not only reduces your stress and frees up valuable time, but it also helps your parent adjust to the comfort of having a support team to help provide care.

Some services your parent may find in their community include:

• Transportation services: Scheduled rides for medical appointments and errands can help your parent get where they need to go while maintaining independence.
• On-site medical care: Many care facilities have visiting health care providers who come right to the community for certain medical visits.
• Pharmacy coordination: Many communities manage prescriptions, including delivery from the pharmacy.
• Activity escorts and staff support: In some communities, staff members can walk your parent to meals, programs, or events to help them stay engaged and connected.
• On-site amenities: Depending on the community, your parent may have access to on-site amenities like salons, convenience stores, or libraries.
• Recreational outings: Many communities have regularly scheduled activity outings to stores, restaurants, and entertainment.

To learn what services and amenities are available, ask the front desk or care director for an activities calendar, a list of in-house providers, and other community resources.

Work with the care facility staff and care team

Now that your parent has moved into a senior community, they have a ready-made care team. When you collaborate with staff, your parent will receive more consistent and enriching support, and you will feel less pressure to handle everything yourself.

Before your parent moves into the community, you should learn:

• What supports and services the community offers.
• Which services are included in the monthly fee and which cost extra.
• How to access schedules for activities, transportation, and medical visits.
• Who your main points of contact are and how to reach them directly.

Once your parent is settled, you can strengthen your relationship with the community by:

• Attending care plan meetings to rebalance responsibilities, set expectations, and share concerns.
• Allowing staff to schedule medical appointments or coordinate follow-ups.
• Redirecting small requests from your parent to the staff so they can help directly instead of having to call you.
• Sharing your parent’s interests with the activity coordinator so staff can encourage engagement.
• Checking in regularly for updates and coordination.

When you share responsibility with the community’s team, you’re not letting go of your role with your parent. You’re creating a stronger circle of care around your parent while giving yourself room to breathe.

Practice self-care and find caregiver support groups

Now that your parent has support from a senior community, you should think about what support you need. Consider where you can turn for connection, relief, and perspective. Whether it’s a caregiver support group, therapy, or simply making time for yourself, self-care is a crucial part of sustaining your caregiving role.

Ways to care for yourself include:

• Attending caregiver support groups so you can share, learn, and feel less alone.
• Going to counseling or therapy so that a licensed professional can help you process feelings of guilt, grief, or stress and learn how to work through them.
• Practicing wellness through journaling, gentle exercise, mindfulness, and creative hobbies for small but powerful outlets for stress relief.
• Finding support from those who already know your story. A listening ear, a walk together, or a simple check-in with trusted family and friends can ease the burden.

Remember, reaching out for support doesn’t mean you’re failing as a caregiver. It means you’ve recognized how support can help you become a stronger version of yourself. Caring for your own well-being strengthens your ability to keep showing up for your parent in healthy and meaningful ways.

Caregiving responsibilities and emotions continue even after your parent moves into a senior care community. However, you don’t have to do it all yourself. By incorporating the services the community offers, teaming with staff, and seeking support for your own well-being, you can ease your caregiving burden and ensure that your parent receives the care they need.