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Caregiving resources for nonfamily members

Helping a friend or neighbor with health challenges is a worthy thing to do. These resources can help navigate the obstacles and help both the caregiver and their charge thrive.

Published: April 2, 2025 |4 minutes to read

Written by: Tim Gower

A caregiver helps a person stand up from a seated position.

As people get older or face a disability, they might start to rely more on friends and neighbors. It might mean getting someone to prepare meals or mow the yard. It can also mean help with more intimate tasks like taking pills on time or getting a lift to the doctor.

While family members can often fill this role, nearly one-fifth of Americans who provide unpaid care to an older adult are nonfamily members — including friends and neighbors.

For anyone in this position, it might feel like a big responsibility. With these resources, caregivers can learn about ways to help make the experience easier and more rewarding for both the caregiver and their charge.

In this article:

Establishing caregiver roles

Consider talking with others involved in caring for a friend or neighbor, such as family members or paid home health aides. Think about what each person can do best. For instance, if the caregiver is great with organizing appointments but struggles with heavy lifting, let others handle those physical tasks. Working as a team can make caregiving feel much more manageable.

Some groups of informal caregivers find it useful to appoint a primary person to be in charge.

There also might be the option of stepping in as a paid caregiver. Caregivers can discuss these roles with theier charge, any family members, friends and neighbors who may be involved.

Understanding the medical condition

It may be helpful to read up about the condition or conditions specific to the person who is receiving care. The health care provider is the first port of call for medical guidance and treatment, and there are resources online for additional education. Use reliable sources, such as independent government resources, peer-reviewed medical journals and other content like the CVS Health® Wellness Zone.

A caregiver can ask questions and take notes at appointments and coordinate with the pharmacy. If a caregiver wants to sit in on their charge’s medical consultations, they should get permission from their charge and tell the provider beforehand.

Ensure proper permissions

If a person becomes the primary caregiver for a friend (therefore one of the main people the friend relies on to make big decisions in a crisis), a few more steps will be necessary. The caregiver will need the right documents in place to support them when they need it most.

  • Prescription pickup. Under the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA), the law that protects the privacy of medical information, a caregiver is generally allowed to pick up prescriptions on behalf of their charge. For peace of mind and fewer roadblocks at the pharmacy, a caregiver should consider registering as an authorized Rx caregiver through their account on the CVS® website. It’s a quick and easy way to know when a charge’s prescriptions are ready for pickup, view the total cost, schedule prescription delivery or set prescriptions to automatic refills. Simply go to the site and click on the “Family Prescription Accounts” tab on the Pharmacy page. Select the “Add an Adult” button and follow the steps.
  • Medical power of attorney (POA). Consider speaking with an attorney or other qualified professional to discuss documents or permissions that may be needed, including legal authority to make health care decisions and access to the charge’s medical records.
  • Medicare authorized representative. Consider speaking with an attorney or other qualified professional to discuss documents or permissions that may be needed, including designating a caregiver to help with Medicare related decisions.
  • Advance directives. These are legal documents that outline the patient’s preferences for their medical care if they can’t communicate them. Consider speaking with an attorney or other qualified professional to discuss documents or permissions that may be needed, including a living will and certain procedures, such as do not resuscitate (DNR), do not intubate (DNI) or organ donation.

Creating boundaries

Many people who care for older adults say they find the work to be deeply meaningful. But studies also show that caregivers’ health can suffer when they devote long hours to helping someone in need, often because they skip exercise, eat poorly and get too little sleep. Caregivers can help prevent this by setting clear boundaries about how much time they can offer. If a caregiver feels like they’re doing too much, they can explore local resources that may help with balancing caregiving duties and personal wellness time.

This content is for informational purposes only and is not medical advice. Consult your health care provider before taking any vitamins or supplements and prior to beginning or changing any health care practices.

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