If you are a primary caregiver for a loved one, you are well aware of the daily stress and emotional and physical impact it can have on your health.
An article posted on About.com by Carrie Hill, PhD states:
“Caregivers who use respite care often tell me that although caregiving is one of the hardest jobs they've ever had, they wouldn't trade the experience for anything. Helping a family member or close friend who has Alzheimer's disease can provide a sense of purpose and great satisfaction. Still, the emotional and physical demands of caregiving make it hard to be a caregiver 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. Without respite care -- a temporary break from the demands of caregiving -- you may be more susceptible to the effects of caregiver stress, such as depression, exhaustion and other health problems.
Be on the lookout for caregiver burnout. It can creep up on you without your noticing it. Caregiver burnout symptoms can include:
-depression
-anxiety, irritability, or anger
-feelings of exhaustion
-self-criticism
-Withdrawal from usual activities
-trouble with handling caregiving responsibilities
-substance abuse
Read the full article on Caregiver Burnout at the following link:
http://www.longtermcarelink.net/article-2008-12-17.htm
Good food for thought!!!
Tom Binder
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2 comments:
Caregiver burnout is a major issue for those with this awesome
responsibility. Don't overlook the role of humor to make things more
bearable. Things that made me angry and frustrated when my mother
(who had dementia)was alive, in retrospect are filled with funny
happenings. This is true too for the many caregivers who read my blog
and contact me about my book which emphasizes humor as a healing
balm. Caregivers need all the emotional support they can get.
Dementia is a disease that knows no boundaries. It is blind to the
categories in which we usually place our fellow human beings. It can
occur at the age of 55 or 85. It can happen to Blacks, Whites,
Hispanics, Asians, Jews, Christians, Muslims, males and females, rich
and poor. It will not spare ex-presidents or ex-prime ministers. It
did not spare my mother. Tears are shed by husbands and wives, sons
and daughters, brothers and sisters—in fact anyone responsible for
the care of a loved one with dementia.
Bob Tell, Author
Dementia Diary, A Caregiver's Journal
http://www.dementia-diary.com
http://caregiverchronicle.blogspot.com/
Caregiver burnout is an issue we deal with on a regular basis. With a good percentage of our clients we are there as respite care for the primary caregiver in the family. We see the stress and concern and it is gratifing to see how we can help both the caregiver and the client who needs the care. We even teach a class to our caregivers called "Caring for the Caregiver" which was developed by The Red Cross. There are numerous methodologies to be used to releave the stress that families feel in these situations. Humor is one, as a previous commentor mentioned, but there are also specific ways of approaching tasks and their results that can really relieve the burden and make it managable.
Jon Purdy - Senior Helpers
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