Caregiver Burnout
The demands involved in caring for an elderly loved one can add up quickly, leaving a family caregiver exhausted and stressed out. Over time, the cumulative effect of caregiver stress can wreak havoc on both physical and mental health. In fact, according to the Family Caregiver Alliance almost 20% of caregivers feel that their health has suffered as a direct result of their caregiving responsibilities.
What is Caregiver Burnout?
Caregiver burnout is a state of physical and emotional exhaustion that leads to a negative sentiment towards the provision of care or the care recipient. The cumulative impact of dealing with the burden of providing care for an ill or aged family member leaves many family caregivers with high levels of stress, fatigue, and ultimately chips away at their own health and well-being.
Causes of Caregiver Burnout
Family caregivers often take on the role of providing care without planning, preparation or training. What often starts as an immediate response to help a family member with illness or injury turns into an unexpected long-term role. The work load, especially for primary caregivers who don't have outside support, becomes overwhelming. Additionally, family caregivers are often dealing with a shift in long-standing relationship dynamics when caring for a parent or spouse. The changes brought on by assuming the role of caregiver can add a great deal of strain to personal relationships.
As fatigue and frustration mounts, caregivers often find themselves bordering on burnout. If you find yourself noticing any of the following warning signs, take action to reduce stress, find respite care and seek help from your doctor to protect your own well-being.
Preventing Caregiver Burnout
The keys to combatting caregiver burnout are self-awareness and self-care. Both you and your care recipient will suffer if you’ve lost the interest or ability to provide quality care. Learning to recognize the signs of burnout is the first step in acknowledging that the demands on your time, energy and resources is impacting your overall well-being. Start the restorative process by developing some self-care strategies to help you de-stress and prioritizing respite care so you can take breaks from caregiving. After all, caregivers need care too.
The next step may be hiring a professional caregiver to assist with in-home care. Family caregivers cannot and should not feel responsible for providing 24/7 care. Making the decision to bring in outside help is a great option for recovering from burnout and reducing the negative effects of caregiving.
Burnout Articles
How to Identify and Minimize Caregiver Burden
The heavy burden of caregiving can gradually overwhelm even the most devoted and best prepared individuals. Take a caregiver burden assessment to determine your level of burnout and find resources to reduce the stress of caring for an aging loved one.
35 CommentsCompassion Fatigue: When Caregivers Go Beyond Burnout
Although caregivers are often cautioned against the dangers of burnout, there is an even more serious phenomenon called compassion fatigue that can be detrimental to both care providers and recipients.
96 CommentsRecognizing Caregiver Burnout
Caregiver burnout doesn't happen all at once—it often sneaks up on you when you least expect it. Learn how to recognize the signs of increasing stress, understand your own limits and maintain honest self-awareness throughout the caregiving journey.
192 CommentsCaught in the “Fix-It Trap” While Caregiving? You May Be Headed for Burnout
When family caregivers enter a downward spiral of trying to fix everything that’s wrong with their ailing loved ones, it leads to hopelessness, frustration and exhaustion. That’s when burnout strikes.
52 Comments
Burnout Questions
Constant never ending complaining 😢
10 AnswersJudyMc75 Answered 5 hours agoVisitation, mom in nursing home.
8 AnswersAnxietynacy Answered 10 hours agoStruggling With Burnout
7 Answersstrugglinson Replied 11 hours agoMy mother was neglectful, narcissistic, and critical growing up, now expects full care/devotion/financial support from her children.
9 AnswersDaughterof1930 Answered 11 hours ago
Burnout Discussions
My "whine moment today." What's yours?
33,262 CommentsPeasuep Commented 9 hours agoWhat's for dinner?
13,502 CommentsSendhelp Commented 13 hours agoNot a question, just really tired of this. My 91-year-old mother is back in the hospital this weekend.
37 Commentsmommabeans Commented 19 hours agoLife after leaving 8 years of caregiving.
1 Commentcxmoody Commented Nov 24, 2024