Caring for a Loved One: Stop Caregiver Burnout
Anger, fear, guilt, multitasking – caregiving can take a toll on your body, mind, and spirit.
It’s estimated that some 65 million Americans are taking care of a loved one. Americans are living longer lives, meaning more and more children and grandchildren are becoming caregivers to incapacitated aged parents and victims of strokes, falls, accidents, and chronic illnesses. In fact, a recent MetLife study showed that the number of adults helping at least one living parent personally or financially is three times higher than it was just fifteen years ago. The MetLife study also showed that 14% of those adults were helping another adult younger than fifty-years-old.
Most readers, if not a caregiver themselves, will at least know one person that is a caregiver to someone. This role, although rewarding, can be physically, mentally, and emotionally exhausting. It’s vital for caregivers to have a strong support structure around them, whether that be from extended family and friends, the local community and social services, and/or their religious community.
Caregivers face a difficult task in determining the best course of care for their loved one – in home with assistance, in the caregiver’s home, an assisted living/ community living environment, or a long-term care facility with a team of medical professionals taking the brunt of the caregiving role. The following are some resources that can help caregivers determine the best course of care and get more information on caregiving:
Agingcare.com
Eldercare.gov
Caregiver.org
Leadingage.org
Lotsahelpinghands.com
Caregiving.org
Snapforseniors.com
Vnaa.org
In any event, whatever decision is reached about the course of care, the caregiver will have a huge responsibility and be faced with a tremendous amount of physical, emotional, and mental stress. Even under the best of circumstances, juggling one’s own life with the responsibilities of being a caregiver can easily lead to burnout.
Often the caregiver becomes so enthralled and busy with the needs of their loved one that they forget about or set aside their own needs. When you fly, the airline tells you to put your oxygen mask on first and then your child’s mask. This may seem backward at first, but if you pass out, then neither you or your child has a mask! The same can be said of care giving; take care of yourself so that you can continue to take care of your loved one.
Watch out for the signs of caregiver burnout, which may include constant:
* fatigue
* headaches
* increased blood pressure
* changes in sleep habits
* changes in appetite
* depression
* overwhelming sadness
* overwhelming feelings of hopelessness or helplessness
* feelings of resentment or contempt
* nervousness
* thoughts of suicide
* feeling inept or guilty
Take these signs of caregiver burnout seriously and, if you are experiencing any, be sure to speak with your primary care physician. Caregiver burnout doesn’t mean that you haven’t done a good job, are a bad person, or don’t care about your loved one….it simply means that your human and have more demands on you than time and ability to manage.
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Karen Gross | Feb 5, 2012 | Reply
Very good topic, good information and advice. As my Parkinson’s progresses, I am finding that my husband and daughters have to do more for me, and it is very frustrating. I have hired a friend to come and care for me 2 mornings a week, and it is so wonderful to have someone who does what I ask