Caregiving Is Heavy. We’re Partnering with Total Life to Make It a Little Lighter

As Mental Health Awareness Month comes to a close, I’m proud to share something that feels especially personal: Eleplan is partnering with Total Life to make mental health support more accessible for caregivers. Starting this summer, covered Eleplan members (adults 65+) will be able to connect directly with licensed therapists through Total Life’s virtual platform, making it easier to care for your own mental health while caring for someone else.

This partnership is rooted in a truth I know deeply: Caregiving is incredibly rewarding, but also incredibly hard. When my brother Liam was diagnosed with autism, our whole family’s life changed. My parents became full-time advocates, case managers, educators, and medical researchers…without ever being given those titles. And while their love for Liam is boundless, I’ve also seen the exhaustion. The worry. The quiet burnout that so often gets pushed aside.

At Eleplan, our goal has always been to bring clarity to the chaos, and to give caregivers a way to organize the endless information, documents, decisions, and plans that come with supporting someone with unique needs. But even with the best planning tool, the emotional weight of caregiving still remains.

That’s why we’re so excited to work with Total Life. Their therapists specialize in supporting caregivers, helping them process stress, burnout, anxiety, and grief. Their sessions are virtual, flexible, and accessible to people who don’t have the time (or energy) to navigate another waitlist or complex intake process. Together, we’re making mental health care one click closer for the people who so often put their own needs last.

Total Life is on a mission to make therapy more accessible and relatable for older adults. Designed specifically for people 65 and older, Total Life removes barriers to mental health support while honoring the unique experiences that come with aging. Whether someone is facing loneliness, navigating loss, or adjusting to life transitions, Total Life connects them to licensed therapists who truly understand. It’s care that meets older adults, and their caregivers, exactly where they are.

More than 70% of family caregivers report increased emotional stress and anxiety due to their caregiving responsibilities (Alzheimer’s Association, 2024). Between 40-70% of caregivers experience symptoms of clinical depression (Caregiver Action Network). These aren’t just stats, they’re signals that we need to do more. This partnership is one step toward that: Helping caregivers not just manage the day-to-day but also sustain themselves for the long haul.

Because the person at the center of the care plan matters. But so does the person holding it all together.