Being a caregiver for someone at the end of their life can be emotionally and mentally demanding. It can be hard to find space for your own needs when so much attention is focused on someone else.
This page offers guidance and ideas to help support your health and wellbeing. There is no single way to be a caregiver. What matters is finding ways to sustain yourself while supporting someone else.
The emotional and mental load of caregiving
You may be managing medical information, coordinating care, and providing day-to-day support, all while navigating your own thoughts and feelings about what’s happening.
Caregiving often brings a mix of emotions that can shift over time, sometimes even within the same day. You may feel a sense of closeness to the person you care for and experience a sense of purpose or meaning in some moments. In other moments, you may feel stress, fatigue, grief, isolation, or uncertainty.
In the context of medical assistance in dying (MAID), some caregivers describe additional layers of emotional experience. Knowing when death will occur can raise complex feelings, including:
- relief that suffering may come to an end
- sadness about the loss of someone you love
- a sense of responsibility in helping to prepare
- feelings of doubt or uncertainty
- conflict or disruption in family relationships
Whatever you’re feeling, it’s okay. There is no single or correct emotional response. Learn more about the range of feelings people experience in Common Feelings.
It’s also common to feel grief before a death has occurred. Making space for it can be an important part of coping. Learn more in Grief and MAID.
Tips for easing the load
Caregiving can feel all-consuming, but small supports can make a difference and create time and space for you to care for yourself.
Organize practical supports
This may include home care services, respite care, or help with meals, transportation or household tasks.
Lean on people you trust
Friends, family members, and community organizations can help with caregiving responsibilities or simply provide companionship and a listening ear.
Take care of your own health
Try to maintain regular meals, rest and movement where possible. Even short breaks can help restore energy.
Seek emotional or spiritual support
This might include counselling, formal or informal peer support groups, or connecting with a spiritual care provider, depending on your needs.
Signs of caregiver burnout
Caregiver burnout can develop gradually and may be difficult to notice right away. Some signs to watch for include:
- ongoing physical or emotional exhaustion
- changes in sleep, such as trouble falling asleep or waking often
- changes to eating habits
- feelings of helplessness, resentment, or isolation
- withdrawing from friends, family, or other social interactions
- difficulty concentrating or making decisions
If you recognize yourself in this list of signs, it may be time to seek additional support for yourself and the person you care for. You don’t have to carry everything on your own.
Seeking help
Reaching out for support is part of sustaining your ability to care. This might include speaking with a health care provider, counsellor, or an organization that supports caregivers in your community.
Explore available services for caregivers in the Support Directory.