Ideas for Fighting Caregiver Burnout

Caregiver burnout is a state of exhaustion–both physical and mental–caused by prolonged caregiving stress. It typically results in fatigue, depression, and even a reduced ability to provide effective care.

 

Due to this, caregiver burnout can be detrimental to the people receiving care. Luckily, there are things that can be done to help fight burnout and the people impacted by it.

 

The first step in fighting caregiver burnout is recognizing the signs. A loss of appetite, trouble sleeping, anxiety, being quick to anger, fatigue, ignoring your own needs, and backing away from social connections are a few of the more recognizable signs that you are experiencing this. 

 

 

The next step is to do something about it. You know that old line that they give on airplanes about putting your own airmask on before applying it for others? It holds true here, too. You can’t take care of other people well unless you are taking care of yourself first. You can do this by making sure that you don’t lose your personal life. Maintain friendships, keep up with hobbies, take time off from work here and there, make sure you are eating healthily, getting exercise, and getting enough sleep. 

 

Setting up boundaries with your family can also be helpful. Making sure that you aren’t taking too much on, divvying up responsibilities, and sticking up for your needs will be helpful toward ensuring that burnout doesn’t take its toll. Helping people in your family to do the same will also be quite helpful.

 

Another solution for fighting caregiver burnout in your family is to employ the help of a professional care service. This can look different depending on the situation you might find yourself in. If you are just looking for something short term, or every once in a while, respite care might be the best solution for you. 

 

Caregiver burnout is very real. In fact, about 40 percent of family caregivers report feeling some sort of unease or burnout according to some researchers. This just highlights how widespread the issue is. Odds are, if you are providing care to a loved one, you have or will experience this in the near future.

 

Please remember that caregiver burnout isn’t just stress. It can also come with feelings of emotional numbness, exhaustion, and loss of perspective. It’s not uncommon for people experiencing

 

We’re here to help answer your questions. Whether you’re just starting your care journey, or you have detailed questions and concerns that you want to go over, we offer a free consultation session that is designed to answer your questions and get you pointed in the right direction.

 

We know that senior care can be overwhelming and often confusing. Our professional experience can help you to avoid the common pitfalls of getting connected to care and help you get connected to the right resources for your unique circumstances.

 

If you would like to learn more about how senior care fits in with your family, get in touch. One of our professional caregivers would be happy to talk more with you. Call us today to get started.