Being a caregiver is pretty difficult at times. Observation has supported this for years, but a recent study shows that the caregivers of survivors of the intensive care unit are especially prone to developing depression or other types of emotional distress. The study spanned almost eight years in length, and observed patients and their support teams at ten different ICUs. Assessments took place up to one year after the patient was discharged from the ICU.
This was a highly specific study, looking at the caregivers of patients who had been in the ICU for at least seven days receiving mechanical ventilation. The study took place in Canada and it was designed to help both caregivers and patients have a better outcome after ICU visits. While pointing out the likelihood of caregiver stress is not a solution, it is a very important first step, and this knowledge is something that can be used to help provide better care. After all, there’s a reason why so many caregivers suffer from burnout. If you are currently caring for an elderly loved one, there’s a chance that you are at risk of this, too. By finding a caregiver to help your family if you find yourself helping with the care of a loved one, you can take the pressure off of yourself and ensure that your mom or dad, grandmother or grandfather, is receiving the best care possible. If you find yourself in a situation where you are no longer able to provide the best help possible for a loved one, having a professional caregiver on your side is going to be a big help.
There’s no question that a caregiver is beneficial to an older person in need. The whole senior care industry is based around this fact. However, being a caregiver is not easy work, and being a family caregiver to someone in extreme need can be emotionally difficult. Putting all of the difficulty of helping someone aside, watching someone that you love suffer is not an easy thing to do. This is why having a professional caregiving service on your side is such an important move on your part. Even if you use the service for respite care only, you are doing your family a big favor. You are ensuring that they keep getting the highest quality care possible, regardless of how tough it might be. You’re also doing yourself a favor, too. You are giving yourself a break from the emotional stress that caring for a loved one with advanced needs inevitably creates. This lets you rest, both physically and mentally. You’re not pawning the duty of being a caregiver off on someone else, but rather making sure that you are putting their needs first. By addressing your own needs, you can help others to meet theirs.
It’s interesting to note that certain groups handled caring for a loved one better. Those that were older, better off financially, and assisting with a spouse (rather than another family member) all had superior mental health. These things are interesting, but do not replace the need for professional assistance by a trained caregiver in most cases.
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