Don’t Ignore Your Feelings! Caregiver Burnout And How You Can Cope With It
As a senior caregiver, there are so many things that you need to be aware of, from your loved one to your own career to any children or pets that also depend on you. Over time all of these responsibilities can weigh on you and without a break, or a little extra time to rest, you could experience caregiver burnout. This is a state of mental, physical, or emotional exhaustion that can affect the quality of your caregiving, as well as your life outside of it.
Did you know nearly half of caregivers have trouble balancing work and caregiving?
At Comfort Keepers Home Care serving Virginia Beach, VA, and the surrounding area, we know that you are committed to providing the best possible care for your senior loved one. That’s why we’ve put together a list of common symptoms of caregiver burnout along with helpful coping strategies that you can try! We want to encourage you to care for yourself, as well as your loved one.
Give us a call at (757) 204-1108 to learn more!
What Does Caregiver Burnout Feel Like?
While there are many symptoms of burnout, there are two that almost every senior caregiver will notice first: fatigue and irritability. You may also begin to notice you’re experiencing more headaches or having trouble sleeping despite being exhausted when you get home for the day.
Other signs that you are experiencing burnout could include:
Difficulty concentrating
Getting sick more often
Missing appointments
If you notice yourself or a loved one who is a caregiver is experiencing these symptoms, the best thing you can do is address it. These feelings don’t typically go away on their own or with time and can even worsen. Fortunately, there are healthy ways you can learn to cope with the stresses of being a primary caregiver for your senior.
How Can I Cope With Burnout In A Healthy Way?
Choosing the coping strategy that works best for you can sometimes seem overwhelming with all of the options but, the key is to keep trying. Remember that what works for someone else isn’t necessarily going to work for you and vice versa. Maybe you find that keeping an active social life helps you let go of the caregiver headspace at the end of the day, while someone else will find that adding watchdog technology to their loved one’s home, such as medical alert jewelry or strategically placed pressure-sensitive floor mats, lets them have a little extra time for themselves.
In order to help you get started, we’ve included a few more ideas you can try:
Find ways to exercise: Although it can be difficult to set aside time to exercise, it is one thing that doctors can agree is good for everyone. Finding the time to work up a sweat and get your heartbeat up can go a long way in helping alleviate your stress.
Find a healthy way to vent your frustrations: For some, this can be a friend who understands the demands placed on a senior caregiver. Others may find it works better for them to write down their frustrations in a private diary or word document.
Find a hobby: The sky is the limit here, as long as what you choose is a healthy outlet from caregiving. Maybe you like watching reality TV or perhaps you enjoy a challenging sudoku puzzle or are interested in joining a book club, as long as it takes you away from the caregiving mindset for an hour or two.
What If Coping Mechanisms Aren’t Helping?
Even with the knowledge you have about caregiver burnout and healthy coping mechanisms, sometimes you will find that you need a little more help. This is where Comfort Keepers Home Care serving Virginia Beach, VA, and the surrounding area can step in! We offer respite care services for individuals who need a little time to recharge their caregiving batteries, take care of important appointments, or anything else they just can’t seem to find time to do. Our care plans are not only flexible but can include any number of our core care services including respite care, transitional care, dementia and Alzheimer’s care, and more.
If you’d like to learn more ways you can practice self-care and healthy coping mechanisms as a senior caregiver, if you’d like to learn more about our incredible care team, or if you’re ready to schedule your free in home consultation, please contact us online anytime or call us at (757) 204-1108.
