The Critical Role of Boundaries for Family Caregivers

Key points

Caregiving can be physically, mentally, and emotionally exhausting.

Boundaries can play an important role in protecting caregivers' mental health.

Healthy boundaries reduce the risk of burnout and self-sacrifice and make long-term caregiving sustainable.

Caregiving is deeply meaningful work and, in many cases, a necessity. It can strengthen relationships, provide purpose, and create moments of profound connection. But it can also be isolating, overwhelming, and exhausting on multiple levels.

By design, caregiving is an imbalanced relationship. We often understand this logically before stepping into the role, yet the constant giving can come at the expense of our own health and well-being. Without conscious effort, many caregivers find themselves depleted, burned out , or