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National Caregivers Day is Feb. 21. Here’s how to offer support.
Little gestures can go a long way.
Nearly 66 million Americans serve as a caregiver for a sick or disabled loved one, putting almost 29% of adults in a position where they’re juggling constant care with all the usual stressors of life. With that, caregiving is a serious challenge.
Caregivers are faced with numerous mental, physical and emotional health challenges, raising the risk they’ll develop depression, burnout and other health issues. Unfortunately, many people aren’t aware of these struggles — and caregivers end up suffering in silence as a result.
“These individuals tend to make their personal needs a lower priority than those they are caring for,” Hillary Ammon, a psychologist at the Center for Anxiety & Women’s Emotional Wellness, tells Yahoo Life. That usually means skipping routine exercise, quality sleep and home-cooked meals.
“If their role requires them to lift or carry loved ones, they may also experience physical pains or injuries,” Ammon says. Some also deal with the struggle of caring for loved ones who may lash out at them, she says.
Caregivers are also constantly stretched thin, Lezlie Poole, program innovation manager at the Rosalynn Carter Institute for Caregivers, tells Yahoo Life. “If there’s one thing we never have enough of, it’s time,” she says.
While there’s never a bad time to honor the caregiver in your life, National Caregivers Day is on the third Friday of February, so in 2025 it falls on Feb. 21. This is a great opportunity to pay a little love and support forward. But trying to figure out what to give a caregiver can be tricky, given all that they do. “The best gift you can give a caregiver is the gift of personal time and self-care,” Lakelyn Eichenberger, a gerontologist and caregiving advocate at Home Instead, tells Yahoo Life.
In addition to doing what you can to give the caregiver in your life a much-needed break, giving thoughtful gifts that show your support and gratitude can go a long way toward helping them on their journey. No matter what you choose, Ammon says it’s important to simply honor your caregiver. “If you have someone in your life, it is important to show up for them, even if they do not ask for help,” she says.
With that in mind, we consulted with several caregivers to learn more about gifts they loved, as well as what they would have enjoyed receiving. (Because many said gift cards were a godsend, we included a few choices below.) These are our favorite options to help you care for your favorite caregiver.
10 ways to care for and acknowledge the caregiver in your life

BetterHelp
An online therapy subscription
BetterHelp membership
Having professional mental health support can be invaluable for caregivers, but Ammon recommends asking someone first if they’re interested before making this purchase. “Have you discussed the idea of therapy with this person before? Did that person express intrigue, but an uncertainty of where to begin the search or a concern about costs?” she says. “I would not make it a surprise gift. Instead, I would run it by the recipient ahead of time and see if they are open to it.”
BetterHelp is a mental health platform that gives users counseling and therapy services they can access online or via text, making it easy to schedule therapy around their day. The company allows people to give memberships to anyone 18 or older.
$100 at BetterHelp

Conair
A foot bath for tired feet
Conair Soothing Pedicure Foot Spa Bath
Caregiving is often physical, with people needing to help support loved ones when they walk, help them get to the bathroom and even lift them in and out of bed. That can do a number on your feet, making a gift like a foot bath a pampering treat. The Conair Soothing Pedicure Foot Spa Bath offers vibration massage along with warm water. It’s also foot-controlled for easy operation. While you probably don’t choose a foot bath based on color, this comes in three different shades for an added layer of personalization.
$31 at Amazon

Peloton
An online fitness subscription
Peloton gift card
It can be hard to find time to get to the gym regularly as a caregiver, and Ammon points out that routine exercise tends to take a back seat. Peloton can be used from home, and the company offers gift cards that you can pass on. A nice perk: The cards can be used to buy a range of Peloton products, including equipment, memberships, weights and other fitness gear.
If you’re not sure Peloton will fit the bill for the person in your life, consider some of our other favorite online fitness memberships.
$100 at Peloton

Amazon
A massage for any time
Spafinder gift card
Vanessa Walilko served as a caregiver for her long-term boyfriend who had pancreatic cancer, and still remembers one present she received during that time. “The best gift I ever got was a gift certificate for a massage,” she tells Yahoo Life. “I was so focused on taking care of my boyfriend that I didn’t think much about what I needed. Thankfully I was surrounded by people who made sure I did things to take care of myself.”
The Spafinder gift card can be redeemed at locations across the country, giving your loved one a range of options.
$50+ at Amazon

Amazon
Groceries delivered to their door
Instacart gift card
Figuring out when to get groceries and what to make for dinner can be an additional stressor when you’re a caregiver. “It seems pretty basic, but groceries and meals are always welcome,” says Walilko. “Planning meals and cooking takes up so much time, especially when you’re planning around foods that are nutritious and safe for the person you’re caring for.” Walilko says it was “so helpful” to receive gift cards for groceries from friends so she could have food delivered. This Instacart gift card can be used for a range of deliveries, from full grocery orders to random pharmacy needs.
$25+ or a custom amount at Amazon

Coop Home Goods
A high-quality body pillow
Coop Home Goods adjustable pillow
Good, uninterrupted nights of sleep can be a rarity for a caregiver, making it crucial to try to set them up for success whenever they happen to land in bed. A quality body pillow can provide something to nestle against to ease pressure points in bed. “The best gift I received as a caregiver was a high-quality, comfortable support pillow,” Jimmy Zollo, who helped care for his grandparents, tells Yahoo Life. Zollo says the pillow helped ease his neck, back and shoulder pain after long days of lifting and bending. Caregivers can lean against the Coop Home Goods adjustable pillow or curl around it when they want a cuddlier experience. The internal fill can easily be added or removed for a personalized feel. It also has a washable cover for easy cleanup.
Other sleep-promoting gifts that your caregiver may appreciate are sleep masks, white noise machines and blackout curtains.
$79 at Amazon

Bare Home
A calming sleep aid
Bare Home weighted blanket
The stress of caregiving, along with needing to help with late night medications and bathroom breaks, can make it tough to shake off lingering worries to relax and unwind for the night. The Bare Home weighted blanket provides a cozy, soothing feel in bed (or just while relaxing on the couch), with a range of weights to choose from. The blanket has box stitching to keep the weighted beads from shifting around, along with corner loops so you can use a duvet cover on top. Pick from 21 shades.
$63 at Amazon

Taskrabbit
Someone to fix things around the house
Taskrabbit
Getting things done around the house tends to fall on the back burner while taking care of another person’s needs. Liz O’Donnell, author of Working Daughter: A Guide to Caring for Your Aging Parents While Making a Living, tells Yahoo Life that she appreciated the Taskrabbit gift card her co-workers gave her while she was caring for her husband. “I was able to hire someone to do some repairs around the house,” she says. Taskrabbit doesn’t currently have gift cards available, but you can still schedule a service for the caregiver in your life after getting their go-ahead.
$100 at Taskrabbit

Willard & May
Flowers with a twist
Willard & May Triumph tulip bulbs
Flowers are always a welcome way to perk up someone’s day. While you can simply order a bouquet, a caregiver who happens to be a gardening fan may appreciate something they can plant. “Choose a gift that aligns with their hobbies,” Anne Couldridge, mom to a 24-year-old with autism who requires 24/7 assistance, tells Yahoo Life. “I would love a unique flowering bulb for spring.” This set of 50 tulip bulbs comes in a slew of different shades and blooms in the spring, giving your caregiver something to look forward to.
$24 at Amazon

The Maids
A cleaning service
The Maids gift certificate
It can be hard for anyone to find time to clean, let alone someone who is juggling caregiver duties. That’s why Couldridge recommends giving a gift certificate for a cleaning service. “Consider gifts that offer time and space for self-care, such as hiring a professional cleaner to lighten their load at home,” she says. The Maids have locations across the country and can do one-time or recurring cleanings. The company even has a housekeeping service, in case you really want to splurge.
$200 at the Maids
Meet the experts
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Hillary Ammon, a psychologist at the Center for Anxiety & Women’s Emotional Wellness
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Lezlie Poole, program innovation manager at the Rosalynn Carter Institute for Caregivers
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Lakelyn Eichenberger, a gerontologist and caregiving advocate at Home Instead
Our health content is for informational purposes only and is not intended as professional medical advice. Consult a medical professional on questions about your health.