Comfort Keepers Information On Compassion Fatigue For Family Caregivers in Stockton, Tracy, CA and the Surrounding Areas
Learn more about how compassion fatigue can affect family caregivers
Many children of senior parents decide they want to become their primary caregivers. Although such intentions are noble and filled with love and understanding, becoming a family caregiver can end up having a negative impact on the lives of the caregivers themselves. Caregiver duties can result in extreme exhaustion and even decreased empathy for the senior they're caring for.
Medical professionals refer to such feelings as “compassion fatigue”. Although compassion fatigue has historically referred to medical and healthcare professionals, today it can also apply to family caregivers as well. If you are one of the many caregivers looking after a senior across the country and think you may be experiencing compassion fatigue, you should keep an eye out for common symptoms, which include physical and emotional exhaustion, dread, guilt, irritability, anxiety, anger, insomnia, and self-isolation.
According to the Compassion Fatigue Awareness Project, denial is also a common symptom. Denial can prevent caregivers from dealing with what they’re truly feeling, which can, in turn, have a negative impact on the seniors they're looking after.
To make sure that neither you nor your older loved one is impacted by compassion fatigue, we've put together a list of tips for dealing with the condition:
- Find out as much as you can about compassion fatigue and take notice of the symptoms if they happen to you.
- In addition to looking after your loved one, take care of yourself as well. This means sticking to a healthy diet, getting regular exercise and all the sleep you need.
- Do not isolate yourself from people who matter to you.
- Talk about what you are feeling or write it down.
- Find a support group.
- Take some time out for yourself.
To learn more about compassion fatigue and how Comfort Keepers can help, contact us today at (209) 208-4592!
