Managing a career and caregiving isn’t about time management.
It’s a day-to-day trade-off between two worlds, both of which require your undivided attention. Caregivers walk through each deadline at work thinking about how the doctor’s visit went, changes in behavior, changes in medical status, or even when the next call comes through the door. It isn’t just exhausting; it’s emotionally burdensome.
Most workplaces still don’t see just how heavy caregiving is. That gap means many of us attempt to show up professionally while also managing overwhelming tasks at home.
Katie Brandt speaks to this challenge with clarity and compassion. She’s a national advocate, educator, and the Director of Caregiver Support Services and Public Relations for the Massachusetts General Hospital Frontotemporal Disorders Unit. Her work comes from solid evidence, professional training, and personal experience—really focused on what caregivers really need to survive and thrive.
Strict boundaries are hard because caregiving demands rapid responses to surprises-a fall, aggression, or a simple cold. Having built a strong support team is the best way to set boundaries.
If your loved one participates in adult day programs or has a paid caregiver during your work hours, make sure that there are many people for them to call if something goes wrong. Ask a friend or family member to act as a backup for non-emergencies. When you trust your team, it allows you to meet your work responsibilities more easily.
Time management is important, but there must be room for self-care. One helpful approach is to speak candidly with your supervisor about all the projects you’re handling, and to clarify deadlines and deliverables. Let your colleagues know when you’ll be away due to caregiving so that deadlines can be adjusted in advance.
There’s power in saying no. Turning down extra tasks or events creates needed breathing room—but it can also slow professional growth. Katie thinks about caregiving and work in “seasons”: sometimes are heavier at home, others at work; these patterns change over time.
Good work depends upon your being rested and fed. Sleep, good nutrition, and movement help to prevent burnout.
Out-of-home caregivers are under a great deal of stress. Start with your workplace—talk to Human Resources or your Employee Assistance Program about caregiver resources. A work support group can be especially helpful because everyone understands your work environment.
If that’s not possible, families caring for a loved one with dementia can look into support groups through ALZ.org, their local Area Agency on Aging at eldercare.acl.gov, or their Council on Aging.
Isolation is the real risk for family caregivers, especially in dementia care. It doesn’t have to be this way, however. Community may be a source of emotional support, trusted information, and friendships that make the journey feel less lonely.
– Katie Brandt, Massachusetts General Hospital.
Self-care isn’t optional. When caregivers take care of themselves, they’re more able to help the people who rely on them, at work and at home. And self-care isn’t just about taking relaxing baths. It also means important activities like annual physicals and preventive screenings. These can be difficult appointments to fit in, but they are key to long-term health.
Katie recommends identifying another caregiver to partner with, and encourages one another to make and keep medical appointments. Caring for yourself is one of the strongest ways to keep caring for others.
Technology has greatly expanded the ways in which caregivers seek information and support. Practical tips, as well as links to others experiencing similar challenges, can be provided through caregiver apps like Roon. Your digital calendar can help you keep medical appointments, deadlines, and self-care activities visible and organized.
Katie reminds caregivers that balance is always moving. Some days, you may feel you accomplish so much; other days, you wonder how things get done. That’s normal. Reach out for support, learn from others, and try new strategies to get you through the toughest days.
Your caregiving experience can deepen your empathy-something that can inspire people around you, even if you don’t notice it.
Katie Brandt’s presence in this conversation reminds us that caregiving isn’t something you fit in around work-it changes how you show up in every part of your life. The goal isn’t perfect balance. It’s having enough support, enough structure, and enough self-compassion to make the load bearable.
Her guidance implies a paradigm shift: caregivers cannot do this alone. Workplaces, communities, families, and healthcare systems have a role to play. And in coming together, caregivers may find moments of strength, connection, and resilience even when things seem impossible.
Katie Brandt is a speaker, educator, advocate, and the Director of Caregiver Support Services and Public Relations for the Massachusetts General Hospital Frontotemporal Disorders Unit. She has been a part of shaping national conversations on caregiving, serving as past Co-Chair of the National Alzheimer's Project Act Advisory Council.
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