How Home Care Can Help Alleviate Caregiver Burnout

By Kimberly Burdo | July 7, 2023 | Comments Off on How Home Care Can Help Alleviate Caregiver Burnout

Being a caregiver of an aging loved one who has a chronic disease such as dementia or cancer can be difficult. Even if you’re just helping your loved one stay safe and connected as she ages can produce a huge amount of stress on your life. Many caregivers are labeled the “sandwich generation” because not only are they taking care of their elderly parents, they’re still raising children or helping their young adult kids maneuver in this world. Those stresses can make you feel the weight of the world is on your shoulders.

If you’re wondering if you are heading toward a burn-out breakdown, look for these symptoms. If your spouse or sibling is helping with caregiving as well, don’t forget to check them for these seven burnout symptoms as well.

Anxiety

While you do your best to provide care to all your loved ones, it’s only natural that if you’ve forgotten to take care of yourself in the process. You may begin to burnout and not only will you feel the consequences of that burnout, so will those around you.

Here are some questions to ask yourself. Do everyday problems overwhelm you now? Do you worry all night about things that are out of your control? If so, hiring home care can help remove the anxiety that surrounds you by giving your senior loved one the care they deserve, and the break you need.

Anger

Are you feeling anger just below the surface of your emotions at all times just waiting to burst out? Maybe you are having more angry outbursts that seem to be triggered by events that in the past wouldn’t have rattled you so much. This can all happen when caregiving gets too overwhelming.

Depression

Depression can look a lot of ways but if you can’t find joy in things that used to bring you joy, you may have depression. If caregiving is bringing you to this point and you feel like you don’t have help, consider looking into home care.

Avoidance or Denial

When feeling burnout, you might not be able to garner up the energy to fix that leaky faucet or go see the doctor about a serious symptom you’ve been having. Instead, avoiding and ignoring the issue seems a better solution. But it doesn’t have to be.

You’re Always Sick

If you’re finding you seem to catch every cold and virus, your immune system might be giving away the clues that you’re burned out.

Unable to Sleep

If you can’t turn off your brain at night because it’s constantly reviewing everything that needs to be done and is afraid you’ll miss something important, burnout is looming.

To reduce the risk of burnout, you need to take matters into your own hands and then place them in someone else’s hands. You don’t need to let go of it all, but looking for help from others is the first step to giving yourself some breathing room to take care of those who need you while taking care of yourself.

Home Care

Hiring a home care provider for your aging loved one is a great step to reducing your workload. A professional home care provider can help your loved one with chores around the home or with making healthy meals. A home care professional can also provide social interactions. Any of these areas can then help you have a bit more free time to focus on the aspects of caregiving you love.

From home care providers to neighbors to faith communities, do not be afraid to ask for a little help so you don’t become burned out while caring for those you love.

If you or an aging loved-one is considering Home Care in Ballwin, MO please contact the caring staff at Autumn Home Care, LLC today at 636-448-9347.

Kimberly Burdo
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