New Year’s Resolutions for Family Caregivers

7 Goals That Matter in 2026

Read time: 14 minutes

• Set boundaries and prioritize your health – Define specific time/task limits, schedule your own medical appointments first, and treat them as non-negotiable to prevent burnout.
• Create simple management systems – Build a centralized caregiving log for all information, establish a formal support network with assigned tasks, and use pill organizers plus automatic refills to reduce daily stress.
• Prepare legal documents early – Complete Powers of Attorney, healthcare directives, and financial documents in Q1 2026 while your loved one has capacity, and learn one new dementia care strategy monthly.

The New Year offers family caregivers a rare opportunity to slow down, reset, and set intentions that make life easier – not harder. While everyone else pledges to hit the gym, family caregivers need resolutions that address real challenges: preventing burnout, managing guilt, and creating sustainable routines that honor both your loved one’s needs and your own wellbeing. 

These 7 practical resolutions help reduce burnout, strengthen family relationships, and create a more manageable caregiving routine in 2026.

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Why the New Year Matters for Caregivers

January is more than just a fresh calendar page – it’s a psychological reset that caregivers desperately need. After navigating the emotional intensity of holiday gatherings, managing family dynamics, and watching your loved one struggle through seasonal changes, the New Year provides permission to recalibrate.

Setting intentional goals now – before crisis hits – can mean the difference between surviving and thriving in your caregiving role.

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Resolution #1: Set Realistic Boundaries Without Guilt

Many family caregivers operate without boundaries, saying yes to every request, skipping meals to run errands, or staying up late coordinating care – all while ignoring their own needs until they’re completely depleted.

The 2026 Resolution: Define specific boundaries that protect your time, energy, and mental health  –  and communicate them clearly to family members.

Start with 3 non-negotiable boundaries:

1. Time boundaries: “I’m unavailable for non-emergency calls after 8 PM.”
2. Task boundaries: “I can manage medical appointments, but siblings need to handle financial paperwork.”
3. Emotional boundaries: “I won’t engage in arguments about past family conflicts during caregiving discussions.”

Boundaries aren’t selfish. They’re the oxygen mask principle in action – you can’t help anyone if you’re suffocating. Every professional caregiver works in shifts with clear start and end times. You deserve the same structure, even as a family caregiver.

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Resolution #2: Schedule Personal Health Appointments First

Family caregivers postpone their own doctor appointments, dental cleanings, therapy sessions, and routine screenings because “there’s no time” or “my needs aren’t as urgent.” This creates a dangerous pattern where caregivers’ health deteriorates silently until they face their own crisis.

The 2026 Resolution: Put YOUR medical appointments on the calendar FIRST, before scheduling anything for your loved one, and treat them as non-negotiable.

Before the month ends, schedule these appointments for the entire year:

• Annual physical exam
• Dental cleanings (2x per year)
• Eye exam
• Any overdue screenings (mammogram, colonoscopy, etc.)
• Mental health check-ins (therapy, counseling, or support groups)

❗Arrange respite care in advance: Don’t wait until the week before your appointment to figure out coverage. Line up respite care, family backup, or adult day programs now so there’s no last-minute scrambling that leads to canceling your appointment.

❗Include mental health care: If you’ve been considering therapy, make 2026 the year you start. Caregiver burnout, anticipatory grief, and compassion fatigue are real conditions that benefit from professional support. Many therapists now offer telehealth, making it easier to fit sessions into your schedule.

Studies show that 40-70% of family caregivers develop depression. Caregivers have higher rates of chronic disease, compromised immune systems, and premature death compared to non-caregivers. Your health appointments aren’t optional – they’re essential infrastructure for sustaining your caregiving role.

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Resolution #3: Create a Support Plan (Friends, Family, Respite)

Many caregivers operate in isolation, either because they don’t want to “burden” others with requests for help, or because previous attempts to get family support devolved into conflict and disappointment.

The 2026 Resolution: Build a formal support structure with specific people assigned to specific tasks, eliminating the exhausting cycle of begging for help or coordinating last-minute assistance.

Map your support network: Create 4 categories of support people:

1. Emergency contacts (available within 1 hour for urgent situations)
2. Regular helpers (weekly or bi-weekly scheduled support)
3. Occasional support (monthly tasks, special occasions)
4. Emotional support (people you can vent to without judgment)

Vague offers of help rarely materialize. Instead, ask for concrete commitments:

• “Can you commit to taking Mom to her Tuesday afternoon physio appointments for the next 3 months?”
• “Would you be willing to cover one Sunday afternoon per month so I can have time off?”

Use a shared calendar. Create a Google Calendar or other shared system where family members can sign up for shifts, see what’s already covered, and get automatic reminders. This eliminates you being the constant coordinator.

❗Investigate professional respite options: Research and budget for:

• Adult day programs (often 2-3 times per week)
• Respite care services (several hours per week)
• Overnight respite for quarterly breaks

Join a caregiver support group: Whether online or in-person, connecting with people who understand your reality without explanation is invaluable. Look for groups specific to your situation (dementia caregivers, sandwich generation, etc.) through:

• myCareBase Care Mastermind Groups
• Local hospitals or senior centers
• Alzheimer Society chapters
• Faith communities

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Resolution #4: Start a Caregiving Notebook or Digital Log

Caregiving information lives in scattered places – medication lists on sticky notes, doctor instructions in your phone, insurance details in email, behavioral changes you’re trying to remember during appointments. This creates stress, missed details, and repetitive explanations to medical professionals who ask “When did this symptom start?”

The 2026 Resolution: Create one centralized system where all caregiving information lives, accessible to you and backup caregivers.

Choose your system:

• Digital: Shared Google Doc, Evernote, or specialized apps like CareZone or Caring Village
• Physical: A dedicated notebook that stays in one location
• Hybrid: Main log in notebook, scanned copies in cloud storage

Essential sections to include:

1. Medical Information

• Current medications (name, dosage, frequency, prescribing doctor)
• Allergies and adverse reactions
• Chronic conditions and diagnoses
• Medical history timeline

2. Healthcare Providers

• Primary care physician (name, phone, address)
• Specialists (cardiologist, neurologist, etc.)
• Dentist, eye doctor, podiatrist
• Home health services
• Pharmacy contact information

3. Appointment Log

• Date, provider, reason for visit
• Key findings or changes to treatment
• Follow-up required

4. Daily Care Notes

• Behavioral changes (confusion, agitation, mood)
• Physical changes (appetite, sleep, mobility)
• Time shifting incidents or other dementia-related behaviors
• Good days and what worked well

5. Emergency Information

• Insurance cards (photos of front and back)
• Medicare/Medicaid numbers
• Power of Attorney documents location
• Healthcare directive details
• Emergency contacts

Make it accessible:

• Keep physical notebook in consistent location (kitchen counter, bedside table)
• Share digital version with family members who provide backup care
• Take a photo of medication list to keep on your phone for ER visits
• Review and update quarterly

What’s the benefit of doing this? 

When a doctor asks “Has this happened before?” or “When did the confusion start?” you will have documented evidence instead of relying on stressed memory. When you need a break and someone else steps in, they’ll have clear instructions. When you’re dealing with insurance or legal matters, all documents are instantly accessible.

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Resolution #5: Simplify Medication & Appointment Management

Managing multiple medications, refill schedules, and frequent medical appointments becomes a full-time job, with mistakes potentially causing serious health consequences.

The 2026 Resolution: Implement systems that reduce mental load and minimize errors in medication and appointment management.

For Medication Management:

Use a pill organizer system:

• Weekly organizers for simple routines
• Monthly organizers for complex medication schedules
• Consider automated dispensers for loved ones with dementia who take medications unsupervised

Set up automatic refills: Most pharmacies offer automatic refill programs with text alerts when medications are ready. Enroll in these to eliminate the mental task of remembering to call for refills.

Create a medication photo log: Take photos of all pill bottles with current dosages. Keep these photos on your phone for emergency situations or when a doctor asks “What does she take for blood pressure?”

Review medications annually: Schedule a medication review appointment where the doctor evaluates whether all prescriptions are still necessary. Many seniors take medications that are no longer needed or that interact problematically with newer prescriptions.

Appointment Management:

Block standard appointment times: If possible, schedule recurring appointments at the same time slot (e.g., “Tuesday mornings are for medical appointments”). This creates routine and makes respite planning easier.

Use digital calendar sharing: Add all appointments to a shared Google Calendar that family members can access. Include:

• Appointment time and location
• Provider name and phone number
• Preparation requirements (fasting, bring specific documents)
• Who’s providing transportation

Prepare appointment documents in advance: Create a standard “appointment kit” that includes:

• Current medication list
• Recent test results
• List of questions for the doctor
• Insurance cards
• Photo ID

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Resolution #6: Learn One New Dementia or Behavioral Strategy Each Month

Dementia and age-related behavioral changes evolve constantly. What worked last month might trigger agitation this month. Caregivers often feel helpless when previously effective strategies stop working.

The 2026 Resolution: Commit to learning one new evidence-based caregiving technique each month, building a toolkit of strategies for different situations.

Monthly Learning Topics:

• January: Understanding time shifting and temporal disorientation – ie: Read: What Stage is Time Shifting in Dementia?
• February: Communication strategies for dementia – ie: Focus on tone and body language, not just words
• March: Managing sundowning behaviors – ie: Adjust lighting and reduce noise triggers
• April: Medication management for cognitive decline – ie: Learn which medications can worsen confusion
• May: Safety modifications for the home – ie: Install appropriate aids (grab bars, night lights, non-slip mats)
• June: Responding to repetitive questions – ie: Practice patient response techniques
• July: Managing bathing resistance – ie: Learn why bathing often triggers fear or agitation
• August: Nutrition challenges in dementia – ie: Learn finger food strategies and safe food textures
• September: Driving cessation conversations – ie: Research alternative transportation solutions
• October: Holiday planning for dementia – ie: Create realistic expectations and backup plans
• November: End-of-life planning conversations – ie: Understand healthcare directives and DNR orders
• December: Self-compassion for caregivers – ie: Learn to recognize your own signs of burnout

Resources for Learning:

• Alzheimer Society of Canada: Free webinars and downloadable guides
• myCareBase blog: Evidence-based articles on dementia care
• Teepa Snow videos: YouTube demonstrations of communication techniques
• Local support groups: Learn from other caregivers’ experiences
• “The 36-Hour Day” book: Comprehensive dementia caregiving guide

Keep notes on which strategies you tried, what worked, and what didn’t. Your future self (and other family members) will benefit from this documented wisdom.

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Resolution #7: Prepare Legal & Financial Documents Early

Most families wait until a crisis to address legal and financial planning, creating stress, confusion, and sometimes legal battles when decisions need to be made urgently. By the time dementia progresses significantly, it’s often too late to execute essential documents.

The 2026 Resolution: Get all essential legal and financial documents in place during the first quarter of 2026, before they’re urgently needed.

Essential Documents Checklist:

Legal Documents:

Financial Documents:

Healthcare Information:

❗Some of these these documents such as the POA must be executed while your loved one has legal capacity to sign them. If dementia has progressed to the point where they can’t understand what they’re signing, it’s too late for POA documents. Don’t delay this resolution.

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Making These Caregiver Resolutions Stick

Most resolutions fail because they’re vague (“I’ll take better care of myself”), overwhelming (trying to change everything at once), or lack accountability structures.

How to Make Caregiver Resolutions Different:

1. Start with ONE resolution this week. Don’t try to implement all seven simultaneously. Pick the one that will make the biggest immediate impact and focus there for the first two weeks. Once that becomes a habit, add another.

2. Track visible progress – Use a simple habit tracker (paper or app) where you check off completed actions. The visual reinforcement of your streak motivates continuation.

3. Build in accountability

• Tell a friend or family member about your resolution and ask them to check in
• Join a caregiver support group and share your goals
• Set phone reminders for key actions

4. Celebrate small wins – Acknowledge every successful boundary maintained, every appointment attended, every new strategy tried. You’re building sustainable change, not achieving perfection.

5. Adjust as needed – If a resolution isn’t working after genuine effort, modify it rather than abandoning it. Maybe scheduling three months of appointments at once is too overwhelming — start with one month. Maybe a physical notebook works better than a digital log. Adapt the goal to your reality.

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The Reality Check: You Won’t Be Perfect

Here’s the truth that most caregiving articles won’t tell you: You will break some of these resolutions.

And that’s okay.

These resolutions aren’t about achieving perfection. They’re about creating systems that make caregiving more sustainable and less likely to destroy your health, relationships, and financial stability. Every small improvement compounds over time.

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Looking Ahead: Your 2026 as a Caregiver

This New Year won’t magically make caregiving easy. Your loved one’s condition will likely continue progressing. There will still be hard days, frustrating moments, and times when you question whether you can keep doing this.

These seven resolutions aren’t about adding more to your plate  – they’re about redesigning the plate itself so it’s actually manageable.

Start with one. Build momentum. Adjust as needed. And remember: taking care of yourself isn’t selfish. It’s the only way to take care of anyone else.

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Related Resources

• The Most Depressing Months: Why January and November Hit Hardest
• What Stage is Time Shifting in Dementia?
• Join myCareBase Care Mastermind Groups
• Find Respite Care Services Near You

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If you found this guide helpful, share it with another caregiver who might benefit. And if you need personalized support navigating your caregiving journey, myCareBase connects families with qualified caregivers and provides resources to make this journey more manageable. Learn more about our services.