Three Tiers of Support
How to Build a 3 Tier Caregiver Support System
Caring for a loved one can be one of the most meaningful roles you’ll ever take on—but it shouldn’t be one you do alone. Many caregivers wait too long to ask for help, thinking they have to carry the entire load themselves. But the truth is, the strongest caregivers are the ones who know how to build and lean on a solid support system.
Whether you’re caring for a parent, spouse, or child, caregiving can quickly become a full-time job—often on top of your actual job, parenting responsibilities, and household management. Without a structured support system, you’re left running on empty, and that’s not sustainable for anyone.
A layered support system gives you breathing room, allows for backup when emergencies happen, and ensures your loved one’s care continues even when you need to step away.
Let’s down the three levels of caregiver support—Primary, Secondary, and Community—and how to engage each one to lighten your load, avoid burnout, and improve your loved one’s care.
3 Tiers of Support
1. Primary Caregiver: The Anchor at Home
Who this is:
You—or whoever lives in the home with the care recipient and handles the majority of day-to-day responsibilities.
Primary responsibilities often include:
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Managing medications and doctor’s appointments
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Coordinating meals, transportation, and personal care
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Handling insurance, bills, and care planning
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Emotional support and companionship
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Household maintenance and errands
How to stay supported as the primary caregiver:
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Keep a weekly planner to map out responsibilities
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Identify which tasks can be outsourced or delegated (our self-care planner can help you identify those tasks)
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Use a caregiver journal to track your own health and emotional needs (there are trackers in the Caregiver Action Plan)
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Don’t try to do it all—activate your secondary and community support regularly (Re-read this line! It’s the most important thing on the page!)
2. Secondary Caregivers: Your Trusted Inner Circle
Who this includes:
Close friends, adult siblings, extended family, or neighbors who live nearby and are willing to pitch in.
How they can help:
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Provide respite care so you can take breaks
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Drive your loved one to appointments
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Help with shopping, meal prep, or home maintenance
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Sit with your loved one while you run errands or rest
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Take over specific responsibilities on a rotating schedule
How to engage them:
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Be specific and direct: “Can you cover Friday afternoons so I can run errands?”
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Share a central care calendar (Google Calendar, CaringBridge, or a shared app)
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Schedule a monthly check-in to redistribute tasks and update them on needs
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Rotate tasks based on what they’re good at or available for
3. Community Support: The Bigger Net
Who this includes:
Church groups, community clubs, coworkers, distant relatives, volunteer organizations, support groups, and even your kids’ school community.
How they can help:
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Drop off meals, run errands, or assist with yard work
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Offer companionship or social visits for your loved one
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Help coordinate fundraisers or donation drives for extra medical expenses
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Provide emotional support and encouragement for you as a caregiver
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Recommend trusted local resources like respite care or elder care specialists
How to engage them:
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Let people know what’s going on—share updates through group texts or social media
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Join caregiver support groups or ask your faith community for assistance
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Keep a list of “helpful tasks” so people can choose what fits their schedule
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Say yes when people offer. Even small acts make a big difference.
Building a Support System Starts With One Ask
Creating a support system won’t happen overnight. It starts with being honest about what you need—and brave enough to ask for it. Asking for help is humbling. Remember that your loved one deserves the absolute best care and that means leaning on those around you to help provide it.
Start Small:
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Ask a sibling to take over weekend check-ins
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Reach out to a neighbor about backup care
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Post in a local group for caregiver resource
You Weren’t Meant to Do This Alone
Caregiving is a team effort. Even if you’re the primary caregiver, your well-being is just as important as the person you’re caring for. By building a layered, reliable support system, you create space to breathe—and ensure your loved one receives the consistent, compassionate care they deserve.
Access FREE Dowloadable Guides
Our guides are FREE to family caregivers and those who are looking for ways to support a caregiver. Download them today. Here are a few to get you started. You can always visitor our RESOURCES page to find more.
Caregiver Action Plan - Our most comprehensive guide includes everything you need to perform a needs assessment, establish trackers, activate your community and schedule your own self-care.
Self-Care Planner - You can't forget to take care of yourself while caring for your loved one.
Hospital Packing Guide - This guide comes complete with checklists and links to some of our favorite items.
Gratitude Journal - A caregiver's mental and physical health will greatly impact the state of the entire household. Sometimes you may need a little prompt to recalibrate.
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