Raising Money for Caregiver Support

Pictured above is the Erickson family, whose story is part of the CaringBridge How We Heal Series.

Being a family caregiver can be a stressful role in more ways than one. Watching a
loved one go through a health journey can be a difficult process, let alone having to
devote hours of time and energy to helping them heal. On top of that, family caregivers
often suffer from burnout and financial stress, leaving little time for self-care.

For everything they give, caregivers sometimes need help themselves. If you know a
family caregiver who needs support, you may consider raising money on their behalf. In
this blog, we cover the best ways to raise money for caregiver support. We hope these
tips inspire you to act as a cheerleader for a caregiver who needs it.

How to Start the Conversation

Before making a plan to raise money for a caregiver, you may consider the best way to
approach them to talk about finances. It can feel difficult understanding the caregiver’s
perspective, especially if you’ve never been in their shoes. Because of this, it’s helpful
to plan out some points to help them understand that you’d like to help in the best way
possible. Below are some tips on how to start the conversation.

Acknowledge the Challenge of Discussing Money

​​People often have difficulty asking for help, especially if they’re constantly giving to
others. Asking for help may feel like a last resort or not even occur to them at all.

But why is it so hard to reach out for support? Some people may feel like it makes them
look weak or selfish. Others may feel embarrassed or fear being turned down if they ask
for help. They may even have experienced circumstances where they asked for help
and were met with negative reactions from others.

These feelings are completely valid, and family caregivers may struggle with them.
That’s why it can be incredibly meaningful to gently make the first move and ask them
what they need.

When checking in with a caregiver, there are a few ways to help them feel comfortable.
You may want to first show them recognition for their hard work and empathetic spirit.

You can also acknowledge that you know it can be a challenge to reach out for support,
but it’s perfectly okay to do so. It even gives others the opportunity to give back to those
who have already given so much, helping to build a larger culture of support and care.

Use Empathetic Language

Sometimes words that are meant to be helpful can instead be hurtful. Avoid starting
your conversation with phrases like:

● “ You should…”
● “You need to…”
● “You look tired…”

Phrases like these can often seem judgmental. Because money is a sensitive topic for
many, it’s important to create a space where the caregiver feels safe and can open up
as needed.

“The hardest part as a patient is watching your caregiver have to do everything. It is
especially hard when you have children. Mom guilt is a real thing! What would have
been nice for my caregiver is simply check in with them. It can be overwhelming when
everyone is asking you about the patient. Let them know you are there for them as well
as the patient. Offer to take the kids for a night or two, give a massage gift card so they
can get some relaxation, offer to take a shift to watch over the patient. Gifts cards for
essentials and food can be very helpful as well. Lastly, again and most importantly, just
check in with the caregiver and acknowledge this is hard on them too.”

Steph D.

How Money Can Make an Impact

When you feel ready, check in with your caregiver and ask what their current challenges
are—what would help them the most? Ask what would make the most helpful financial
impact for them. It’s common to think only about medical expense support and stop
there. However, there is so much more that could help a caregiver, it just needs to be
personal to them.

Examples of items you can raise money include, but aren’t limited to:
● Groceries
● Medications & medical expenses
● Gas money
● Takeout
● Pet bills
● Childcare
● Savings funds
● Loan payments

Sometimes covering one item on the list can lift a huge weight off a caregiver’s
shoulders. Keep cultivating a space where they feel safe sharing any of their financial
struggles, so you can determine the best way to help them.

“While I was recovering from surgery, my husband was not only responsible for my care
and needs, but the care of our two children and two dogs. So much attention was
placed on me, but he was running around ragged. The best thing our family gifted him
was a cleaner to make sure the house was spotless and one less thing he needed to
worry about during that time. It made me so happy to see him be able to relax just a
little bit.”

Brooke T.

How to Raise Money for Caregiver Support

When you’ve identified the caregiver’s needs and expressed your interest in financially
supporting them, below are some ideas for how to start:

Create an Online Fundraiser

There are many different online platforms that allow you to fundraise for a caregiver.
CaringBridge partners with GoFundMe, the world’s leading fundraising platform. By

starting a GoFundMe, you can fundraise for a variety of causes, such as medical
expenses, memorial services, or general expenses like monthly bills, necessary travel,
or general wellbeing.

You can get your GoFundMe up and running and ready to share with just a few clicks.
You can also easily personalize and share your fundraiser via text, email, or social
media.

If you have a CaringBridge account, you can start a GoFundMe through your
CaringBridge site. Instead of managing multiple platforms, you can fundraise, post
updates, thank donors, set up daily bank transfers, and add teammates to help with
tasks — all on GoFundMe.

Host a Sponsored Event

Virtual fundraisers are incredibly impactful, but they’ll never replace the beauty of
gathering together in person. Hosting a sponsored event can help you support your
caregiver and give people an opportunity to participate in a fun, community-based
activity.

Here are some fundraising event ideas to help inspire you:

● A silent auction: You can ask your network, local businesses and community
members to donate a space or supplies for the event.
● A community concert or dance: Is a loved one part of a band? Or do you have
a friend or relative who’s a DJ? Explore your connections and see if they’ll put on
a concert for a good cause.
● A walkathon or marathon: People can donate money and go the distance for
your caregiver and enjoy a beautiful day while they do it.
● An educational workshop: Do you have a talent or skill you can share with
others? Or perhaps you have a friend who loves teaching? One-day workshops
and classes can be a great way to raise money. From cooking classes to
ballroom dancing, there’s no end to the possibilities.

Run a Potluck or Bake Sale

Bring everyone together for a community potluck or bake sale. See if you can get
friends, family or local restaurants to whip up and donate some delicious eats. Then,
sell off the treats or charge tickets for an evening of tempting aromas and delicious
food.

You can charge by the item or a flat entry fee, or ask for a voluntary donation. Put a
competitive spin on it by having people taste test each dish and vote for their favorites.

What’s Your Story?

Raising money is a wonderful way to give back to a caregiver and show them gratitude.
If you’re raising money for the first time, we hope these ideas help you get started.
If you have other fundraising ideas for caregivers, we’d love to hear them! Feel free to
share them with the rest of our community in the comments below.