Caregiver burnout occurs due to emotional, mental, and physical exhaustion. The condition transforms individuals from being caring and compassionate to being negative, irritable, and apathetic. Caregivers experiencing burnout often live with anxiety, depression, fatigue, and stress. Other symptoms of caregiver burnout include:
- Social withdrawal
- Decreased interest in previously enjoyed activities
- Changes in appetite that cause weight loss or gain
- Alterations in sleep patterns
- Frequent illness
- Thoughts of self-harm or a desire to harm the person being cared for
Burnout can develop due to a variety of reasons, including the following situations. However, there are ways caregivers can prevent getting burned out.
1. Neglected Personal Health
When caregivers become immersed in the needs of others, they often forget to take into account their own emotional and physical health. They may not eat a healthy diet, get enough rest, or exercise regularly, which are all necessary to maintain the energy needed to provide high-quality care while managing their own health.
Family caregivers need to care for their own wellbeing. If you’re caring for an aging loved one and are feeling overwhelmed, consider hiring a professional caregiver to provide respite care. Philadelphia families who want to prevent burnout can turn to Home Care Assistance. One of our professional caregivers can assist your loved one at home while you take a nap, go to work, run errands, or go on vacation.
2. Unreasonable Demands
Caregivers commonly have other family, career, and financial responsibilities in addition to their caregiving duties. In time, the collective burden can become too much to bear and lead to burnout.
3. High Expectations
Some caregivers might expect their unselfish acts to have a significant positive impact on both the seniors in their care and other loved ones. When these expectations aren’t met, a caregiver may lose his or her sense of self-worth and become distressed.
Caring for senior loved ones can be challenging for families who don’t have expertise or professional training in home care, but this challenge doesn’t have to be faced alone. Family caregivers can turn to Home Care Assistance for the help they need. We provide high-quality live-in and respite care as well as comprehensive Alzheimer’s, dementia, stroke, and Parkinson’s care.
4. Challenging Circumstances
Individuals who take on the role of family caregiver might become frustrated when they find themselves in financially difficult positions. They might also lack resources and the necessary skills to organize, plan, and provide the care their senior loved ones need.
5. Lack of Support
Even when caregivers have the necessary training and experience to handle their duties, they also need to have some type of support system available. Support may come from other family members who are willing to lend a hand or from respite caregivers. The local community might offer group meetings where caregivers can share concerns and learn from one another.
Families who need help caring for senior loved ones can turn to Home Care Assistance, a leading provider of Philadelphia home care service. Services available in our customizable care plans include meal prep, mental and social stimulation, assistance with personal hygiene tasks, and much more. To create a comprehensive in-home care plan for your loved one, call us at (215) 645-4663 today.