6 Signs of Caregiver Burnout
Caring for an ill or elderly loved one can take its toll on you. Your days may be filled with driving them to doctor’s appointments and making sure they have their medicines. You may need to help them pay bills and keep their house clean. You may even need to help with personal care, like bathing and using the bathroom. And you’ve got your own responsibilities as well.
When you put a lot of energy into others’ needs, it’s easy to forget about your own. This can lead to a feeling of physical and emotional exhaustion called burnout. And it can creep up on you before you know it.
Here are 6 signs of caregiver burnout.
You’re exhausted.
Exhaustion is more than just being tired. Exhaustion and fatigue is another sign that you may be burning out.
Stress and worry can interfere with sleep. You may wake up several times a night if you are caring for a person who wanders or is at risk of falling out of bed. Having a bad night now and then is one thing, but if you feel tired all the time, you may be close to burnout.
You’re get irritable and/or angry easily.
When you’re caring for a loved one who is elderly or ill, you may feel that you have to be upbeat and nice all the time.
It’s natural to get frustrated or annoyed sometimes, especially if your loved one lashes out at you. But if you are often irritable or impatient, resent caregiving demands, or get angry over little things, you might be at risk of burnout.
You’re sad and/or depressed.
It is hard to watch a loved one get sicker or struggle to care for themselves. You may think that you aren’t doing a good job or that you can’t make the person better.
You may also feel guilt, regret, or grief. Feeling sad and crying sometimes is natural, especially if you are worn out. But if you burst into tears at the drop of a hat, that might be a sign of burnout.
You’re always stressed.
Caring for a loved one can be stressful, especially when you also have a job and a family of your own. Worry, panic, and lack of focus can be signs of stress. Frequent colds or headaches, or the development of chronic illnesses, may signal that you are close to burnout.
You stop seeing friends.
Caregiving for a loved one can take up a lot of your time. You may feel too tired to see friends like you used to. You might fear that they won’t understand what you’re going through. This can make you feel alone just when you most need support. Caregiving responsibilities can mean that you have to cancel plans sometimes. But avoiding friends — whether it’s by ignoring texts or phone calls or making excuses for not getting together — is a sign you may be close to burnout.
You let your own health slide.
When you’re a caregiver, stress and lack of sleep — and even too little fun — can mean that you let your own health slide. You might eat more junk food, or forget to eat at all. You’re less likely to exercise.
You may put off your own medical or dental visits. If you have to do strenuous things as part of your loved one’s care — like helping them in and out of bed or pushing a wheelchair — you might get backaches. All these can be signs of caregiver burnout.
How In-Home Care Can Help with Caregiver Burnout
In-Home Care is a great solution to help care for your elderly loved one. The In-Home Care team at Alliance Senior Care provides a full range of services designed to be tailored to your specific needs for your loved one.
Our In-Home Care team provides tailored services encompassing;
- Medication Monitoring
- Nutrition Services
- Transportation to and from Medical Appointments
- Personal Home Care
- Household Care
In-Home Care provides tailored services to assist your elderly loved one with the following chronic health conditions including;
- Heart Disease
- COPD
- Diabetes
- Alzheimer’s and Dementia Home Care
- Parkinson’s
- Renal Failure
- Pain Management
Bringing together the best of In-Home Care with Supporting Services provides care for the whole family. This supports families and caregivers as well as the elderly loved one within a family.
If you have signs of burnout, In-Home Care with Alliance Senior Care can help with tailored services to meet the need of patients with chronic illnesses, Alzheimer’s, Dementia and more. We can tailor care programs to meet your specific needs.
Provide the best care for your loved one while taking care of yourself.
To learn more about how In-Home Care can help improve your loved ones’ quality of life, call Alliance Senior Care at 248-274-2170. It’s not just In-Home Care, it is Integrated Care.
Home Care are an excellent resource for family caregivers and seniors alike.
Alliance Senior Care Home Care services offer a wide range of services providing healthcare, daily living assistance, transportation to and from Doctor’s appointments and tailored care services for additional circumstances.