Caregiver Burnout: Where to Get Help in Palm Beach County

The National Institute on Aging lists these signs of caregiver stress (NIA):

feeling exhausted, overwhelmed or anxious getting angry or impatient easily feeling lonely or cut off trouble sleeping sadness or loss of interest in things you used to enjoy frequent headaches or pain no time to exercise or eat well skipping your own personal care misusing alcohol or medication

NIA notes that caregivers face a higher risk of physical and mental health problems. It recommends learning your own warning signs and acting before you are completely overwhelmed (NIA).

If you are having thoughts of harming yourself or the person you care for, call or text 988, or dial 2-1-1 in Palm Beach County (211 Palm Beach/Treasure Coast). If you are worried that care at home is becoming unsafe, the Florida Abuse Hotline is 1-800-962-2873. It also takes calls about neglect, and you can ask it for help (Florida DCF).

The AAA Helpline (1-866-684-5885). This is the county's Aging and Disability Resource Center. Staff help caregivers find services and enroll in programs, in English, Spanish and Creole (AAA PB/TC). The agency also runs Powerful Tools for Caregivers, a workshop on managing stress and emotions (AAA PB/TC Healthy Aging). Alzheimer's Community Care (561-683-2700). This nonprofit serves Palm Beach, Martin and St. Lucie counties. It offers a 24-hour assistance line, Family Navigators and caregiver support groups at low or no cost (Palm Beach United Way; Florida Attorney General). Alzheimer's Association, Southeast Florida (1-800-272-3900). It runs a 24-hour helpline and free caregiver support groups across the area (211 Palm Beach/Treasure Coast). Memory cafes. These are social hours for a person with dementia and the caregiver together. For example, the Palm Beach County Library System's Lantana Road Branch hosts one with Alzheimer's Community Care (Palm Beach County Library System). Trustbridge offers memory cafes and caregiver workshops as well (Trustbridge).

Support groups won't solve the workload, but caregivers often find out there what is actually available.

A real break means someone else covers the care for a set block of time. That can be a few hours at an adult day center, a volunteer for an evening, or a short facility stay. Our respite care guide explains each program in Palm Beach County and how to apply, including Medicaid, VA, the Alzheimer's Disease Initiative and RELIEF.

Federal caregiver money flows through the Area Agency on Aging. The National Family Caregiver Support Program covers adult family members caring for someone 60 or older. Its services include information, help getting access to services, individual counseling, support groups and training, respite, and limited supplemental services (Florida Department of Elder Affairs). Most of these programs have waiting lists, and screening is how you get on them (Okeechobee County Senior Services). Call before you reach a crisis.

The federal Family and Medical Leave Act gives eligible employees up to 12 workweeks of unpaid, job-protected leave in a 12-month period to care for a parent with a serious health condition. Your employer must keep your group health coverage going while you're on leave (U.S. Department of Labor).

You're eligible if all of these apply (U.S. Department of Labor):

your employer is covered: a private employer with 50 or more employees, or any public agency or school you have worked there at least 12 months you have at least 1,250 hours in the past 12 months your worksite has at least 50 employees within 75 miles

You can take the leave intermittently or on a reduced schedule when medically necessary, even a few hours at a time, for things like doctor visits (U.S. Department of Labor).

There are two limits. FMLA doesn't cover parents-in-law (29 CFR 825.122(c)). And Florida has no general family leave law for private employers. Its state law covers career service state employees, who can get up to 6 months of unpaid family medical leave (Fla. Stat. 110.221). Check your employer's handbook for any paid leave.

Dependent care credit. If you pay someone to care for a parent so you can work, you may qualify. The parent must be physically or mentally unable to care for themselves and must live with you more than half the year (IRS Topic 602). Starting in 2026, the credit runs from 50% down to 20% of up to $3,000 in expenses for one person, or $6,000 for two or more, depending on income (IRS). You can't pay your spouse or your own dependent and claim the credit for it (IRS Tax Withholding Estimator).

Dependent care FSA. For 2026, the employer exclusion is $7,500. You can't use the same expenses for both the FSA and the credit (IRS).

Head of household. An unmarried caregiver who can claim a parent as a dependent may file as head of household. The parent doesn't have to live with you, as long as you pay more than half the cost of the parent's main home, which can include a rest home (IRS).

When unpaid help and programs aren't enough, families usually hire a licensed home care agency or a registry aide. Our home care agencies page explains the license types.

If a family member has become the full-time caregiver, a written personal services agreement can pay that person fairly and document the arrangement for a future Medicaid application. See paying a family caregiver and our personal services contract guide.

Burnout also comes from being the only person who can act. Once a durable power of attorney and a health care surrogate designation are in place, a sibling can call the bank or the doctor's office without you (five documents guide). For long-term costs, Medicaid planning and VA Aid and Attendance may fund care at home or in a facility.