Ditch the Repetitive Tasks This Summer: Tech Can Lighten Your Load as a Caregiver

Summer looks different when you’re a caregiver.

The pace may slow down for others—but for you, it’s a season of snack runs, med checks, hydration reminders, and mental checklists.

If you’re caring for both kids and aging parents, you already know: when the school routine hits pause, summer turns into a full-on juggling act. Between your kids, your elderly loved ones, and everything else on the calendar—vacations, playdates, camps… you name it—summer can quickly start to feel like a lot.

But here’s a perspective shift worth considering:
Support comes in many forms.

Thanks to technology, you can lighten your load by bringing a few simple tools into your caregiving circle. And the best part? You don’t have to be tech-savvy to get started.

Let’s talk about how technology—yes, even free, beginner-friendly tools—can help you reclaim more time and feel a little less pressure this summer.

☀️ Why Summer Isn’t a Break for Caregivers

Most people assume summer is a slower season. But for caregivers, it’s often the opposite:

• Kids are out of school, which means more supervision and daily logistics.
• Heat and dehydration increase risks for elderly loved ones.
• Routines go out the window.
• There’s pressure to make the season feel “fun” or meaningful—even when you’re stretched thin.

If you’re traveling, trying to coordinate care from afar, or just feeling the weight of being the only one keeping everything afloat, you are absolutely not alone.

And if you’ve ever thought, “I just need fewer things to manage,”—I’m with you!

🔄 Repetitive Tasks That Quietly Drain You

You may not even realize how much of your energy is going toward tasks that repeat daily:

• Checking if medications were taken
• Searching for paperwork, prescriptions, provider info
• Writing down checklists and to-do’s that get lost
• Making grocery lists, meal planning, and grocery shopping
• Keeping essentials stocked for you and your loved ones
• Paying bills or ordering refills at the last minute

These are the “invisible” tasks that build up until your brain is maxed out, and these are the simple examples. I am certain you could easily list at least 10 more.

But you don’t have to do them all yourself anymore.

💡 Tech Tools That Actually Make Life Easier

Here’s a roundup of real-world tools and systems—most caregiver-tested, many free or low-cost—that can help reduce your mental load and give you back time you didn’t realize you were spending. To clarify, none of these are sponsoring this post. These are tools I have either used in the past or currently use for my family.

🛒 Errands & Deliveries

• Instacart / Amazon Fresh / Shipt: Schedule grocery delivery during a time when you or a neighbor can help put them away.
• Walmart+: Offers free grocery delivery plus prescription discounts. 
• ButcherBox: Stock the freezer with high-quality meat to simplify meals.
• HelloFresh / Home Chef / Daily Harvest: Pre-portioned meals delivered to your door—no more “What’s for dinner?” loop. This is a great way to off-load the pressure of some meals.

💊 Medication Management

• Medisafe / EveryDose / Pill Reminder – All in One: Set medication reminders with easy tracking and caregiver alerts. We use Medisafe.
• Local Pharmacy Deliveries: Many local pharmacies offer medication delivery. We use Walgreens delivery for a small fee. Keep in mind that although this is convenient, not all medications may qualify for delivery like controlled substances.
• PillPack by Amazon: Delivers meds pre-sorted by time of day.
• Amazon Pharmacy: Free prescription delivery, often with pharmacist support by text.
• Capsule: This is an online pharmacy, which also delivers same day. There is a box to check your zip code in case they don’t service your area. 

🧾 Bills & Home Systems

• Automatic Bill Pay: Set it and forget it through your bank or apps.
• Life360: Great if your parent is still driving—location tracking and crash alerts offer peace of mind.
• Ring Doorbell or Nest Cam: Subtle ways to check in without hovering.

📅 Coordination & Communication

• Google Calendar (shared): Add appointments, med times, and check-ins across siblings.
• Lotsa Helping Hands: Set up care calendars and keep everyone in the loop without constant texts: coordination, commination, and support all in one.
• Google Keep / Shared Notes: Running grocery lists, to-do’s, or caregiver notes updated in real time. Google Keep is the MOST underrated tool for caregivers! If you use gmail, you have Google Keep.
• Grandpad app: This is a great way to check-in face to face without needing to use face-time.

🧭 Why Summer Is the Perfect Time to Try These

You don’t have to overhaul everything. Just try one.

Summer tends to be less structured than the rest of the year—which makes it a great time to test what works:

• Going on vacation? Try a med tracking app while you’re away.
• Hosting visitors? Set up a shared calendar or menu to keep everyone aligned.
• Feeling stretched? Automate one bill. Schedule one grocery delivery.

The goal isn’t perfection—it’s progress. There is no one size fits all, especially for those of us in the Sandwich Generation. Just start:

-one way to improve communication

-one way to off-load an errand that takes a lot of time

-one app to start getting a handle on medications.  

For me, grocery delivery is a lifeline!  Medication deliveries through Walgreens helps ease those little trips that quickly add up. We use Butcher Box to make sure the freezer is stocked just in case; this gives me so much peace of mind.  Most of our recurring bills are on automatic payment and we are transitioning my mom’s bills to automatic payment as well. 

💬 Final Thought: You Deserve Support—and technology is a great way to extend your support circle.

Whether you’re an only child, the “default” sibling, or someone flying solo in this caregiving journey, know this:

Support looks different for each one of us. 

When you start putting simple systems into place, one piece at a time, you start releasing the repetitive tasks that take up valuable mental space and time.  

You need a few systems that free you up to be present with the people you love, for what matters most—connection, peace of mind, and the space to be instead of just do.

📣 Want More Support Like This?

Subscribe to Caregivers Coffee and get our free Family Health Information Organizer, filled with the pintables you need to get started. Whether for emergency readiness or everyday care, having what you need in one place starts to make caregiving more sustainable, for you and those you love.

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