Managing Family Caregiver Stress
Resources and information regarding financial caregiver stress and how to manage it.
Managing Family Caregiver Stress, Balancing Care for Yourself and Your Parent
Caregiver burnout. The Sandwich Generation. You’ve heard the phrases and if you are a family caregiver, you are familiar with being caught in-between balancing your parents in home care along with the care for your own family. Juggling schedules, appointments and making sure your parents are safe all while continuing to work and care for your family can cause caregiver burnout. It is all too common for you to forget to take care of yourself until the day comes when you say “That’s it, I can’t do anymore”.
Many people do not plan to become caregivers. Someone they love becomes needy or frail and they step in to help. Caregivers tend to be special people with big hearts, sensitive, responsible and looking out for others best interests. But unfortunately, those same traits tend to make them not think about taking care of themselves first. Not taking care of yourself can lead to mental, emotional and physical exhaustion which in turn does allow you to take care of another. Here are some tips that can help.
You have probably the phrase “Aging in Place” and simply put, Aging in Place means allowing your parent to age in their current home. Almost all adults want to live in their home for as long as possible and not move to an assisted living facility. It allows them to remain in familiar surroundings and in a community which they are comfortable. There are a number of factors that go into allowing a parent to Age in Place, their health, their safety around the home, their support network and of course finances. Although there comes a time when moving may be required, there are many tips and steps you can take to help keep your parent safe. And if your parent can remain safe, they can Age in Place for a long time. Below are our blogs which may help in keeping your parents safe in their own home.
Recognize if you are at higher risk for caregiver burnout.
- If you are a live-in, around the clock caregiver
- If the person you are caring for cannot be left alone
- If the person you are caring for is a family member
- If you don’t have a support network of friends and family
- If you have difficulty asking for help
Recognize the signs of caregiver burnout.
- An increase in being angry or having a temper
- Insomnia
- Loss of appetite
- Becoming emotionally fragile
- Not being able to concentrate
- Having difficulty at work or with your spouse
If you feel you are experiencing caregiver burnout, there are a number of steps you can take.
Seek advice and a support network. Asking a therapist for advice can be a good thing but it helps even if you talk to your physician, members from your church or other co-workers who have gone through a similar experience. You do not need to handle the stress and experience alone and everyone needs a time to vent. Here is just a small list of the people you can talk to.
- Physicians and health care workers of your loved one
- Family and Friends
- Co-workers who have gone through similar experiences
- Pastors and church members
- In Home Care agencies
- Hospice Agencies
- Geriatric Care Managers
Know the options which can provide care for your loved one. All healthy caregivers need a break at some point, even if it is for a few hours to get to the grocery store. It’s not something to feel guilty about, it’s something that is required for you to be your best. There are options out there, such as
- Family and Friends
- In Home Care Agencies providing respite
- Adult Day Care
- Temporary stays at Assisted Living Facilities
Recognizing caregiver burnout is critical to providing good care to your loved one. Below are a few of our blogs on the subject.
Managing Family Caregiver Stress Blog
How to Give Your Aging Loved Ones Purpose
Depression is an alarmingly common problem in the elderly. Retirees often become isolated as they age, having lost the career that brought them friends, purpose, and a reason to get outside every day. As family members, it becomes your job to maintain these important...
How to Advocate For Your Own Healthcare
Unfortunately, our society generally glorifies youth and fears or even despises old age, rather than embracing aging and associating age with wisdom and knowledge. Because of this, as we age, we fear the deterioration of our bodies and the possible lack of security...
How to Stay Busy During the Hot Months Of Summer
During the hot months of summer, it is advised for seniors especially, to stay indoors and to keep cool, because they are more prone to heat related illnesses. So, how can you stay active while keeping cool, and what are some things that caregivers can do to keep...
How to Set Boundaries When Caregiving
I've often thought about and talked about boundaries to my Caregivers at Havenwood, as well as to our Client's families. This can be such a tough subject to broach. In researching this topic, I came across this very well written article. If you are a Caregiver, caring...
How to Help Seniors Stave Off Loneliness
Feeling like no one needs me anymore. That was the answer given to me when I asked an elderly client what the hardest part about getting older was. But what causes loneliness among the elderly, and how can we help to alleviate it? Studies show that Seniors who are...
How to Get Through the Holidays When Grieving a Loss
Holidays have always been a time to spend with Family and Loved Ones. These Holidays bring meaning to certain days and are for being with those we love the most. But if you have lost someone you loved the most, it can seem entirely impossible to be in a celebratory...
What Do You Say to Someone Who is Dying?
This is so tough. Sometimes it feels like there are no right words to say. Sometimes the simplest words mean the most. Here is a letter sent from a friend of mine, to his Uncle who was diagnosed with Pancreatic Cancer. It was great to talk to you today, Uncle Joe. You...
At Home Care Services Boise, Idaho – Havenwood Brochure
A brief flyer of the at home care services Havenwoods provides in Boise, Idaho. We provide at home care for seniors allowing them to age in place. Our care services can be flexibly scheduled from 1 to 24 hours including live in arrangements. Our caregivers are...
Want to Learn More About Havenwood?
Our mission is to provide care for seniors, disabled individuals and those in need. We care about each family and client. We tailor our services and schedules to meet your needs. Our caregivers are screened, have full background checks, trained and are supervised to ensure they provide the best care available.