Use Available Resources for Caregiver Burnout
Seniors might be eligible for low- or no-cost services, such as visiting nurses, in-home medical care, meal delivery, and adult day programs. This network of support can help alleviate caregiver stress.
Unfortunately, there's no one answer to how long feelings of burnout will last. Caregiver burnout results from the stress built up over months and even years. It rarely comes on suddenly and won't leave that way either. If you can get the support you and your loved one need, it will get better, though.
Caregivers who are "burned out" may experience fatigue, stress, anxiety and depression.
Signs such as avoiding the loved one, anger, fatigue, depression, impaired sleep, poor health, irritability or that terrible sense that there is “no light at the end of the tunnel” are warnings that the caregiver needs time off and support with caregiving responsibilities.
Indeed, family caregivers, while struggling to adjust to new responsibilities and roles [5], may experience negative psychological outcomes that include new or worsening depression, anxiety, and Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) symptoms [6].
But for many caregivers, stress induced by caregiving responsibilities often goes on daily for many years, snowballing into chronic stress. Caregiver burnout refers to episodes when chronic stress climaxes into feelings of physical and mental exhaustion, inability to cope, and sometimes hopelessness.
Caregiver burnout is a state of physical, emotional, and mental exhaustion. It may go along with a change in attitude -- from positive and caring to negative and unconcerned. Burnout can happen when you don't get the help you need, or if you try to do more than you're able -- either physically or financially.
Being a caregiver requires endless amounts of energy, empathy and patience. Caregiving is a time-consuming undertaking that can easily lead to burnout. If you're caring for a loved one, it's important to be aware of the challenges caregivers face, so that you're able to address them if you need to.
“It can feel like being disconnected from your life.” Not everyone experiences caregiver burnout the same way or at the same time. It can happen when caring for someone with a very challenging diagnosis (like in Pong's case); or it can happen when you're caring for someone with a less challenging diagnosis, too.
Poor communication in the workplace, a lack of recognition, no appreciation, and maintaining demanding work schedules. These are the reasons why caregivers quit and it's not that all of them quit voluntarily.
Anger and resentment are very natural and expected responses to long-term caregiving, especially in caring for aged parents. You can feel these feelings and still be a good caregiver. The trick is to recognize the triggers and learn how to manage your emotions before they take you over.
Caregiver depression may result from the many challenges involved in taking care of someone who is ill. Part of the stress caregivers may feel can stem from concerns over a loved one's safety, personality changes, and health concerns. Self-care measures may help a person cope and prevent depression.
Caregiver stress can lead to multiple negative outcomes including declines in physical health, increased mental health concerns, and overall decreased quality of life. Caregiver stress also leads to increased financial costs to the person, family, and health care systems, making it a public health issue.
In most of the cases, prevalence of depressive symptoms is significantly higher among caregivers than non-caregivers.
Impact of Caregiving on Caregiver Mental and Emotional Health. The psychological health of the family caregiver is negatively affected by providing care. Higher levels of stress, anxiety, depression and other mental health effects are common among family members who care for an older relative or friend.
Caregiver burnout can lead to neglect and abuse for those whom they are caring for. It is a serious public health issue and too often goes unnoticed as caregivers tend to isolate themselves, especially when they are stressed.
If this sounds like you and you feel trapped caring for your elderly parent, you're not alone. A study on social isolation found that caregivers often feel lonely and isolated. The concern is that those feelings can mount and may lead to depression and other mental and physical problems.