Caregivers often find they have less time for themselves and other family members. They often spend so much time on caregiving duties that they end up sacrificing the things they enjoy, like hobbies or vacations. Or, they have trouble balancing work schedules around caregiving. Emotional and physical stress.
Lack of support. A common challenge reported amongst caregivers is a lack of support. Support systems are key in preventing burnout and providing the best care for a loved one suffering from a physical or mental handicap.
Caregiving is often a full-time job that can impact your health and well-being, job performance and overall life balance. It can lead to stress, anger or resentment, and it sometimes can feel like the relationship you have with the family member in your care is now an obligation.
Caregiver stress is due to the emotional and physical strain of caregiving. Caregivers report much higher levels of stress than people who are not caregivers. Many caregivers are providing help or are "on call" almost all day. Sometimes, this means there is little time for work or other family members or friends.
Often, impatience and anger stem from exhaustion. Caregiving can sap your strength mentally, and it can have negative effects on your physical health if it disrupts your sleep or eating habits. If other family members cannot take over caregiving duties for a day or more, consider hiring a Care Professional.
Caregiving can also result in feeling a loss of self identity, lower levels of self esteem, constant worry, or feelings of uncertainty. Caregivers have less self-acceptance and feel less effective and less in control of their lives than noncaregivers.
Sometimes, as a caregiver, you feel that you can't do anything right or that things just don't go as planned no matter what you do or how hard you try. And if you are tired, you are more likely to get frustrated. Frustration may lead to stress eating, substance abuse, and a higher likelihood of losing your temper.
Talk to a Professional
Keeping feelings and frustrations bottled up can make the situation worse. Feelings of loneliness and isolation are common among caregivers and can contribute to the negative side effects of burnout. Talking to a professional about your situation can help you learn techniques to manage burnout.
Patience is one of the most important CareGiver qualities you can possess and is especially crucial when working with adults who suffer from Alzheimer's or other diagnoses of dementia.
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.
Caregivers who are "burned out" may have fatigue, stress, anxiety, and depression. Many caregivers also feel guilty if they spend time on themselves rather than on their ill or elderly loved ones.
Managing too many responsibilities, feelings of not being in control of the situation, fear for a loved one's well-being, and financial and healthcare coverage stressors can bring on various states of anxiety in a caregiver.
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.
Many caregivers experience depression. If you are experiencing symptoms, know that you aren't alone and that help is available. Depression is a serious condition, but one that is treatable.
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.
Accelerated aging and higher death rate
In a study published in Journal of the American Medical Association, 33% of stressed caregivers with a severe chronic disease died within 4 years. Older adults (aged 66 – 96) caring for a spouse have a 63% higher risk of death than non-caregivers of the same age.
Compassion – The ability to translate empathic feelings into action (desire to alleviate suffering). Optimism – Expect a favourable or positive outcome. Confidence – Sure of one's self and one's abilities.
a good caregiver is attentive and responds to situations in a timely manner. A patient, especially the elderly, needs constant care and attention. It's the caregiver's job, therefore, to be attuned to those needs even if the patient doesn't or is unable to communicate them.