An online peer support community created and run by people who provide care.
Wash
She showers once a week, and for the next six weeks—approximately four months into our new pandemic normal—I will be the one to bathe her. Her seniors’ program has been closed for months now, and it’s time for a plan. My aunt is tired of bathing her, and it looks like...
Friend to healthcare worker
I am currently helping friends with their severely disabled child. The child needs round-the-clock supervision; this is especially challenging during the night, as someone must monitor the child’s condition at all times. Because of the pandemic and my friends’...
The high cost of living in a disabling world
The turn of the millennium was marked by a litany of good intentions and disavowals of unequal treatment – by an endorsement, as the first article of the UN convention has it, of disabled people’s right to “full and effective participation in society on an equal basis...
What Is Compassion Fatigue?
“Since the pandemic, individuals are coping with so many different forms of stress that might be activating a compassionate part of them that they might not understand, which results in them feeling drained, overwhelmed, and depleted,” says Hillary Schoninger, a...
Should I Help My Aging, Ailing Dad Access His Toxic Web Feed?
My father and I have not been especially close for all of my adult life because of his inability to communicate or relate to me, to others or to the world in general in a meaningful way. As he has aged, his danger and menace have pretty much disappeared, and he has...
The final five percent
For reasons I still can’t grasp, Conway — a brain-damaged burn victim with seven fingers — never could qualify for disability. Caroline was managing their day-to-day lives while working a low-wage job as a medical courier, picking up extra shifts when she could to...
This is what our days are really like.
Each of our lives is so different, but we have so many things in common, too. Tag your Instagram photos with #facesofcare to show the real people who are supporting so many others.
On Facebook? Us, too
These private Facebook groups are a safe space for support and encouragement — or getting it off your chest.
All Caregivers
Spousal Care
After Caregiving
After Caregiving: Transitions
Young Caregivers
Mental Health
Caregiving Parents
Long-term Care
Eldercare
Spousal Care: 20s, 30s & 40s
LGBTQIAP+ Caregivers
Caregiving Daughters
Caregiving Sons
This is a space for everyone who provides care, no matter who you are or where you are in your caregiving journey
Different situations,
same issues.
People approach caregiving like it’s a personal issue. It’s not personal when all of us face the responsibility of providing support for the ill, disabled, and elderly people in our lives.
There’s no one type of caregiver.
Most of us don’t even identify with the term “caregiver,” so how do we find support? There’s no one demographic in caregiving, it touches everyone. We need organizations that will give us the support we need in the way we and our loved ones need.
It’s more than being a good friend.
The healthcare industry has shifted more and more of the responsibilities of keeping people alive and safe onto friends and family — and health aids with little training, support, or pay.
Everyone deserves support.
We don’t care how many hours you put in or how long you’ve been doing it. If supporting someone in your life is on your mind every day, you belong here.
This is a space for everyone providing care.
Lots of organizations have rules for who can be a part — or ways to make people like us feel unwelcome.
This is a community of people who aspire to be empathetic, generous, understanding, and patient — to the people we support, to each other, and to ourselves.
Join our newsletter
Thoughts on care work from Cori, our director, that hit your inbox each Monday morning (more-or-less).
This isn't a roundup of articles; this is what's on her mind after deep discussions with a wide array of care workers, participating in communities of mutual aid, reactions to mainstream and academic publications, and personal reflections—from the profound to the profane.
We go way beyond tips and tricks. We're imagining a different world, based on what care workers are already living.
There are no grand solutions, but there are countless little ways to make our lives better.
By signing up for the newsletter, you're consenting to get email newsletters from us using a tool called Substack.
We don't sell or share our list with anyone.
We have the power to change things
Caregivers have wisdom and experience to share. Researchers, product developers, and members of the media are eager to understand the nature of care work. Together we can raise awareness of issues faced by care workers and spread solutions.
We have a group specifically to connect you so we can bring about change.
I'm caring for my
I am part of
Community, not corporations
The Caregiver Space isn’t a front for a pharmaceutical company, a healthcare conglomerate, or the government. We’re a bunch of caregivers from all walks of life, coming together to support each other.
We can be totally honest about our experiences because this is a judgement-free-zone. Our experiences are all different, but we get it.
Not everyone has friends who understand or will even listen; that’s why we’re here.
We provide a safe and open space—at no cost—where you can be real about what it’s like to care for someone dealing with a serious disability or illness.
No matter what stage you are in your caregiver journey—whether you currently care for someone, are about to, or did it in the past—you’re welcome here.
Our community of caregivers is a place to ask questions, share experiences, get real answers, or just get things off your chest. Please do not use this space as a substitute for professional advice. We’re your friends, not your doctor.
This nonprofit is funded by Adrienne Gruberg, a former family caregiver, and those of you who make donations. We also make a few dollars each month through Google Adsense and Amazon Smile.
Adrienne Gruberg
Adrienne founded The Caregiver Space to support other caregivers.
Cori Carl
Cori is in charge of keeping the organization up and running.
Founded by caregivers, run by caregivers.
We share real advice from real caregivers.
You’ll find yourself reflected in stories from other caregivers.
Share your hard earned lessons and let your voice be heard. Here’s how.
Guidelines & Moderation
Community Guidelines // Author Guidelines // Moderator Guidelines
Everyone is entitled to their opinion. Remember there is another human being who is likely experiencing some pain on the other end of the computer. We are here to support each other, not make caregiving harder.
As a community that welcomes all forms of diversity, we encourage a multitude of voices and perspectives.
Terms & Conditions
Terms of Use // Privacy Policy // Copyright Policy
The Caregiver Space, Inc. is a peer support community. The information on The Caregiver Space is for informational purposes only, and is not a substitute for legal advice, medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. Please consult your healthcare provider with any questions regarding medication or treatment. The views expressed by authors, volunteers, and members of The Caregiver Space are their own and do not necessarily reflect the views of The Caregiver Space, Inc.
Your data, cookies & ads on the site
We use Google Adsense and Amazon Affiliates to offset a small portion of the costs of running this nonprofit. We use Google Analytics to keep track of our site traffic and Substack to manage our newsletter (we used to use MailChimp). Our forms are powered by Typeform and we use Hootsuite for our social media accounts. This website runs on WordPress using Elegant Themes and is hosted on Siteground.
Some of these services use cookies and other tools that may that collect data about people who visit our site to do things like decide what ads to display, let us know what people find interesting, and allow you to comment on posts. By using this website, you’re consenting to share your information with the services we use to run our website.
The Caregiver Space is a registered nonprofit in the US: EIN 46-2784507