November is National Family Caregivers Month — a time to honor those navigating one of life’s most demanding and purpose-driven roles. In a recent conversation hosted by Unseen filmmakers Amanda and Tom Dyer, Innerhive founder Crystal Gallo shared how her personal caregiving journey revealed a universal truth: no one can (or should) do this alone.
Watch the full discussion below!
Full Discussion: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=o9bXDzmoX_4
From Crisis to Clarity
Like many, Crystal didn’t plan on becoming a caregiver. During the pandemic, she found herself quickly relocating her grandmother with dementia and her uncle with cancer across the country. The emotional and logistical storm that followed exposed how unprepared most families are when caregiving lands suddenly in their laps.
She describes the hardest part as “not knowing my threshold for emotional stress” and realizing how quickly the lines blur between being a loved one and being a caregiver. That tension — love mixed with responsibility — is fertile ground for burnout.
Why Burnout Hits So Hard
Caregivers often focus entirely on the needs of their loved one, losing track of sleep, meals, friendships, and self-care. Burnout shows up in four ways:
Unlike workplace burnout, there’s no “paid time off” for caregivers. That’s where community becomes essential.
The Layers of Community
Crystal highlights that community isn’t one-size-fits-all. It can be:
When caregivers connect with even one of these circles, the weight begins to lift.
The Hardest Step: Asking for Help
One major theme was the difficulty of asking for help. Caregivers often feel guilt, fear, or uncertainty about what to request. On the flip side, friends and family usually want to help but don’t know how. That creates a gap. Innerhive is designed to close that gap by giving caregivers a clear way to list needs — from meals to transportation — and allowing supporters to step in.
A key layer of Innerhive is the care map — a simple, visual tool that shows who’s in your network and where gaps exist. Families can then use Innerhive’s resources, updates, and help calendar to stay aligned, reduce overwhelm, and create more time for wellness.
As was beautifully summarized in the discussion: “Community is how we thrive, not just survive.” Caregiving will always be demanding, but with the right tools and the right people in your corner, it doesn’t have to mean burnout.
