Caregivers need to set boundaries in order to have the bandwidth to care for an injured or ill family member. For some caregivers, boundary setting might come easily. For others, not so much. These six hacks will help you set the boundaries you need to keep yourself healthy.
November marks another National Family Caregivers Month, a time to recognize, support, and listen to family caregivers. Everyone talks about a cancer journey, or the toll the aging process takes on our nation. But this month we want to celebrate, listen to, and find new ways to celebrate the family caregivers in our midst. Each Sunday of November you’ll heart from a different family caregiver on ways to avoid burnout, care for oneself, or make crucial decisions. You can also listen to the Self-Care Hacks podcast for interviews with family caregivers.

The Battle for Mt. Laundry
“I could have done that!” my relative grumped as I carried a stack of laundry into Pedro’s hospital room. I cringed inwardly but smiled outwardly.
“I didn’t have a lot to wash.” I set the neatly folded and wrapped stack of clean clothes in my suitcase and shoved it into the corner of the cramped room. “Thank you for the offer.”
“How much did it cost you?” she interrogated. “It’s free at my house.”
“It cost much less than a train ride and gas to get out to your place. I do appreciate your concern.” Inwardly, I seethed. While I appreciated her offer to help, couldn’t she understand that I preferred to wash and fold my own unmentionables—or let a stranger do it for me? Why did every interaction with her seem to heat my emotions to boiling? She only wanted to help—to do her part to help Pedro get well.
She opened her mouth in protest and I hurried to change the subject.
“Thank you for playing UNO with Pedro,” I said, as graciously as I could. “I get tired of losing to him.”
“It’s the least I could do. Why don’t you let me take your laundry home with me, and I’ll wash it and bring it back the next time I come.”
“No, thank you. I have what I need for now. I head back to Montana in a few days.” Enough already with the laundry, I felt like screaming.
“Can you believe that the nurse forgot to change Pedro’s sheets?” she said.
“Let me tell you my schedule for the rest of the week,” I said, hoping to avoid yet another long litany of complaints about every. single. thing.
At long last, she left. I dropped into a chair, exhausted by the effort to dodge and divert the negativity. How could I keep on dealing with pushy people who wanted to help?
Realizing I Needed to Change the Way I Interacted with Others
On the one hand, I felt so grateful to everyone who helped us. My parents came to live with us and take care of our daughters so that I could rush off to San Francisco whenever Pedro needed me.
My parents also subbed for Pedro and me at our teaching jobs. Pedro’s brother and sister-in-law, who lived 90 miles out of San Francisco, spent time with Pedro whenever I had to return to Montana. In between his treatments, they opened their home to him. Friends and acquaintances, moved by our story, sent letters, cards of encouragement, and money to help us with our travel expenses.
On the other hand, I resented the pushy people who felt they knew best how to fight cancer and arrange my life. People who wanted to do my laundry when it wasn’t practical. Those people who knew that Pedro’s illness would go away if he just confessed his sins. People who thought they didn’t need to wear a mask when they came in the room ‘because they weren’t sick’ or ‘just washed their hands.’ Some people even thought they knew more than the doctors and nurses and liked to share THEIR opinion about Pedro’s treatment plan. It seemed like every pushy person I’d ever known had suddenly gotten ten times pushier.
I needed some boundaries—and I needed to not feel guilty for imposing them. As a people-pleaser sort of person, establishing boundaries didn’t come easily. But without firm boundaries, I would soon sink under the stress of other people’s opinions.
I had taken a firm first step in establishing boundaries when I turned down the laundry offer. Sometimes, as a caregiver, the first steps towards self-care includes mustering up the courage and setting boundaries.
These hacks on setting boundaries for caregivers will help you get a handle on the overwhelm of caring for a loved one before you suffer from caregiver stress or caregiver burnout.
1. YOU and the One You Care for Have the Right to Set Boundaries

This includes who has information about the status of the patient and who gets to visit. In our case, we had to keep the location of Pedro’s treatment on a need-to-know basis so that one particular person would not arrive on the scene with cast and crew ready to harangue the hospital staff and cause no end of drama.
We kept this important person involved by sending letters and updates mailed from various cities (yes, we went to great lengths to keep the boundaries in place for the peace of mind of both the patient and the caregiver).
You have the right to do the same.
2. You Don’t have to Explain or Rationalize Your Boundaries to Other People
Caregiving brings trauma to the caregiver. It’s ok to not answer your phone, your text messages, or emails when you need some ‘time out’ from caregiving. Learn how to use autoresponders. Make it clear to others that if you don’t take care of yourself, you won’t have the resources to take care of your loved one.
This post has helpful hacks for using social media as a tool to help you.
3. State Your Most Important Boundaries Clearly
Write out a list of boundaries and post them on your front door for all well-wishers to read before they enter. This way, you won’t be put in the awkward situation of refusing entry to someone. Post a sign that says: “We welcome visitors, but please do your visiting by phone if you are sick or have been exposed to sickness recently. Wear a mask and use the hand sanitizer right inside the door.”
If the doctor says all visitors need to wear masks and booties, make sure everyone knows ahead of time. Don’t feel badly if someone chooses not to visit because of the requirements. Not your monkey, not your circus.
4. Graciously Listen to Advice, but Don’t Feel Badly if You Don’t Take it
The advice friends, family and complete strangers freely offer may make you shake your head in disbelief. Choose to assume they gave the advice in love, smile kindly, and don’t take offense.
Something about illness and injury brings out the Dear Abby in everyone. Non-caregivers have no idea how many snippets of wisdom and advice others have already showered on you. People want to feel as if their advice or efforts helped save the life of your loved on. Humans are quirky that way.
You have the right to never do what they suggest. Especially if it involves garlic or carrot juice enemas.
5. Make a List of How People Can Help BEFORE People Start Asking if They Can Help
As soon disaster strikes, take time to start a document on your phone of all the ways people can help. The lengths people will go to help out a friend in need might astonish you. Kind friends picked our girls up from school multiple times, invited them over for a few nights so I could get a break or spend a night with Pedro in the hospital.
During times of illness and distress, people WILL reach out to help you. If you make a list of ways that you would appreciate help before they start asking, you’ll never feel caught off guard when someone asks how they can help. If you need help with meals when your loved one is home, put that on the list (don’t forget to include dietary restrictions).
Maybe you don’t mind people doing your laundry or cleaning your house. Put those things on the list. The list is completely up to you, but it allows you to set boundaries that feel comfortable to you. At the same time it gives those who care about you something constructive to do. You can check out this free caregiver helpers template for ideas.
6. Don’t be Afraid to Change Your Boundaries as You Need to
Life changes at the speed of light when fighting cancer or dealing with a long-term care situation. You have permission to change your list of what you need. If a friend or relative starts stressing you out, you have permission to set new boundaries in order to meet YOUR needs.
Above all, you want to manage your stress levels so you’ll have the bandwidth to care for your loved one. If people take offense, remember—not my monkey, not my circus.
You get to control and balance your boundaries and your needs.
These signs of caregiver stress and caregiver burnout from Dr. Michelle Bengtson will help you assess your need for new boundaries.
Signs of caregiver stress:
- tiredness or being run down
- difficulty sleeping.
- overreacting to minor situations that normally wouldn’t phase you
- new or worsening health conditions
- trouble concentrating
- struggles with memory
- low energy level
- drinking more, smoking more, or neglecting responsibilities that are normally prioritized
- cutting back on activities that you previously enjoyed
NOW is the time to start implementing some of these self-care hacks for caregivers. If know a caregiver who exhibits these signs, share this podcast episode with them. Check out this post for ideas on how to support a caregiver.
Signs of Caregiver Burnout:
- MUCH less energy
- catching every flu or cold or illness that comes along (depressed immune system)
- exhaustion even though you’re getting enough sleep
- neglecting your own needs more
- thinking that you don’t have time to take care of ourself
- dissatisfaction with the caregiver role
- having persistent feelings of helplessness and hopelessness
NOW is the time to seek counseling or a support group. If you are a caregiver call someone now. If you know a caregiver who has reached this stage, offer to make an appointment for them. Offer to drive them to the appointment or take care of the family member they care for while they go to the appointment.
While I couldn’t set a boundary of avoiding my laundry-loving relative for the duration of Pedro’s illness, I did set boundaries around our conversations. Every time she opened her mouth to complain, I’d distract her with a question about another topic. I gently, but firmly built a wall of protection around my frayed emotions. She qualified as a nice person, but not a safe person.
Surround yourself with safe people, and never fear erecting boundaries for everyone else. Safe people don’t probe, pick, and harp. They listen, encourage, and pray. Safe people only give advice after asking if you want to hear it. They will tell you the truth, but they won’t force it on you.
Caregivers need safe people to surround them. Safe people don't probe, pick, and harp. They listen, encourage, and pray. #caregiver #selfcare Click To TweetIf you’re a caregiver, you need safe people around you in order to take care of yourself. And if you don’t take care of yourself, the loved one you care for will suffer.
Good words, Anita! Boundaries are so necessary!
Michele Morin recently posted…Invite Vigilant Gratitude to Wake Up Your Prayer Life
They are! And I find them difficult to set up, but I’m always happier when I have them!
Anita Ojeda recently posted…You Can Cancel Graduation, but You Can Never Cancel Grace
Thanks for the advice, Anita. Setting boundaries in daily life is hard enough; in times of trauma it would be even harder. Thanks for encouraging us to think about it ahead of time.
Jerralea recently posted…Post #15 – 2020
I’m sorry you’ve been unwell, Jerralea! I’m glad your wonderful husband was the perfect caregiver for you!
Anita Ojeda recently posted…Fun Books About Winter for Little Ones
Good advice. May we all seek God’s grace to help in effective ways so we don’t add to caregivers’ stress.
Barbara Harper recently posted…Do We Have to Choose Between Nice and Right?
There are so many areas in my life where I can see in retrospect that would have turned out so differently if only I had thought through the possibilities ahead of time!
Anita Ojeda recently posted…How to Harness the Power of Social Media for Family Caregivers
Wise advice Anita! Having experienced being a primary caregiver for my late husband through our journey with his brain cancer, I could relate to so much of what you wrote here.
Bless you,
Jennifer
Tea With Jennifer recently posted…Recognizing Grace in hard times
Thank you for stopping by, Jennifer. Family caregivers bear a burden that most people don’t understand.
Anita Ojeda recently posted…You Can Cancel Graduation, but You Can Never Cancel Grace
A great post Anita. Yes, we all get into trouble when we don’t set boundaries.
So true!
Anita Ojeda recently posted…Fun Books About Winter for Little Ones
The topic of boundaries is such an important one for caregivers as well as life in general. We should always be able to state and set our boundaries while reserving the right to adjust them as necessary. Also the part about graciously listening to the advice of others and doing what feels right to you with it. I have never met a person who really enjoys unsolicited advice, so this is a good tip for those advice givers as well.
Shelbee
http://www.shelbeeontheedge.com
Exactly! We all like to give advice, but no one really likes to receive it ;).
Anita Ojeda recently posted…You Can Cancel Graduation, but You Can Never Cancel Grace
Anita, these are great. “NOW is the time to start implementing some of these self-care hacks for caregivers.” I love this line. It’s such a great reminder that setting healthy boundaries is an ongoing process of evaluation. It resonated with me because of the word “NOW,” which is that reminder to not simply learn more but to be proactive with boundaries. Great stuff!
Jed recently posted…What is Self Care for Kids? Childhood self care defined.
Thanks, Jed! NOW is a great time to do a lot of things, isn’t it? All it takes is the realization that we need change to start taking baby steps towards change.
Anita Ojeda recently posted…How to Avoid Caregiver Burnout in Six Easy Steps
Anita, thank you for these wise words and tips. You’ve certainly been there…and so you know. I found it insightful to not rationalize boundaries to others and to make a list of helpful things BEFORE asked. But everything is wisdom.
Karen Friday recently posted…Look Up When the World Distracts You
That one small hack–having a list ahead of time, makes it so much easier to accept help graciously :).
Anita Ojeda recently posted…Cozy Romances to Warm Your Heart this Fall
Wonderful advice, Anita. I think most people want to be helpful, they just don’t know how to go about it. There must be a middle grouund between saying “Call me if you need anything” (too vague) and being as pushy as your well-meaning relative who wanted to help with the laundry. The tips you give here work not only for caregivers, but for everyone. We all need to learn how to set boundaries. Thanks for sharing!
Laurie recently posted…Transactional or Transcendent? I Learned About Faith From “The Log”
I’m slow at learning how to set boundaries, but as I slowly set them in different areas of my life, I’m finding I feel less stressed-out and overwhelmed!
Anita Ojeda recently posted…SCH 025 Four Self-Care Hacks for When You Care for an Aging Parent
Great post, Anita. All these tips can be used by caregivers and non-caregivers. This was a gem, “I needed to not feel guilty for imposing them. As a people-pleaser sort of person, establishing boundaries didn’t come easily. But without firm boundaries, I would soon sink under the stress of other people’s opinions.” When we try and please everyone, we do sink. Thanks for writing these posts. Caregiving is exhausting enough, and having tips to help with this task helps both the caregiver and the patient.
Thanks for stopping by, Theresa! It is SO difficult to set boundaries if you’re a people pleaser. It takes learning to love yourself enough to see that your opinion matters.
Anita Ojeda recently posted…SCH 026 Self-Care Hacks for Caregivers from a Neuropsychologist
It’s not always easy to find or set healthy boundaries, but these are such great tips. If people pleasing comes easily, it’s helpful to remember that by setting boundaries, we’re also showing others that we respect theirs. Win, win! 🙂 Thanks for hosting and for another great post Anita.
Marielle recently posted…How to Stop Being a Perfectionist [Coping without Perfectionism]
What a good point! If we treat ourselves with respect, chances are we’ll treat others with respect as well!
Anita Ojeda recently posted…SCH 026 Self-Care Hacks for Caregivers from a Neuropsychologist
So glad you are doing this series.
Lauren Renee Sparks recently posted…Thanksgiving Notes and Quotes
Thanks, Lauren! Don’t miss today’s podcast with Dr. Michelle Bengtson!
Anita Ojeda recently posted…SCH 026 Self-Care Hacks for Caregivers from a Neuropsychologist
Anita,
Great post on setting boundaries. I especially liked the idea of making a list of how people can help, before they start asking to help. Go on the offense…great strategy!
Blessings,
Bev xx
Bev @ Walking Well With God recently posted…Keep Sending Out and Receiving Messages of Hope
Thanks, Bev! The best defense is a good offense, right?
Anita Ojeda recently posted…SCH 026 Self-Care Hacks for Caregivers from a Neuropsychologist
Thank you for sharing those important steps to maintaining boundaries. It’s so easy to get caught up in listening to others and forget to take care of ourselves.
Lisa Jordan recently posted…How Do You Overcome Your Fear of Failure?
I agree! When we’re in new and uncomfortable situations, especially!
Anita Ojeda recently posted…SCH 026 Self-Care Hacks for Caregivers from a Neuropsychologist
Boundaries are critical to living a peaceable life. I have them set in many places.
Susan Shipe recently posted…Why Did He Run?
Exactly! They’re not easy to set up, but very necessary!