Caregiver stress: The Effect on the Mental and Emotional Health of Caregivers

Did you know that many caregivers suffer from severe burnout? Caregiver burnout means a state of physical, emotional, and mental exhaustion due to their responsibility to the one they take care of. It is a serious problem because it can lead to suicide or severe mental or physical problems. Learn how caregivers can improve their health and prevent burnout in this article. Contact us to know more about caregiver wellness.

Effect of caregiving

Caregivers mostly suffer from burnout due to many reasons. They experience many physical, mental, and emotional symptoms, including:

• Emotional and physical exhaustion
• Withdrawal for social activities.
• Loss of interest in activities once enjoyed.
• Feel hopeless and helpless.
• Appetite changes.
• Weight changes.
• Changes in sleep patterns.
• Not able to concentrate.
• Get sick often.
• Irritability, frustration, and anger towards others.
• Anxiety.
• Guilt or denial.
• Stay alone most of the time.

If you notice any of these symptoms, then you should talk with someone, or if you are thinking of hurting yourself, call 911 or the Suicide and Crisis Lifeline to get help 24/7.

Tips for improving health for caregivers

Certain ways can help the caregivers to improve their health and prevent burnout, including:

1. Respite care: This is a care service that provides temporary breaks to caregivers. You can schedule respite care to give yourself a break from your caregiving work for some hours, a few days to several weeks. The person within your care can either stay at home on medical professional care or at a healthcare facility or an adult care center. It helps you relax and find a balance between your responsibility as a caregiver and your personal life.
2. Try not to let your loved one’s illness become a top priority: Caregiving should be one aspect of your life, not all your life. Schedule your time for yourself as well because this allows you to take care of your loved ones better along with yourself.
3. Stay physically active: Try to make time to engage or re-engage in healthy activities that keep you physically active. You can join exercise classes, a gym, the golf course, or walk in a park to incorporate healthy activities into your life.
4. Get enough sleep: If you don’t get enough sleep at night, it affects your overall health and well-being. Try to find the reasons why you can't sleep at night and try a few strategies that help you fall asleep. This reduces your worry and anxiety and gives your body the rest it deserves.
5. Get regular medical checkups: You need to ensure that you have contact with a healthcare provider that you trust, someone who knows your work as a caregiver and what it means for you. The healthcare provider gives a yearly physical evaluation to find any medical issues that require treatment and suggestions to avoid them.
6. Stay connected: You should stay connected with your friends, family, and loved ones who can support you and help you prevent the feeling of loneliness and isolation due to your caregiving tasks.
7. Ask for help: It might be hard to ask for help. But you need to ask for support when you need it. You may need to practice saying “yes” when someone offers help rather than saying no when there are many tasks on your plate. This allows you to ask for help from your family members or other caregivers, who often offer great tips, advice, or support you need. They might help you with some work sometimes as well.

If your burnout doesn’t improve, seek medical help.

Caregiving stress is more common in caregivers than you think. However, with the help of tips for managing caregiver burnout can help you to improve your help and focus on your well-being as well.

Need help with your caregiving duties, call or visit our senior care clinic in Brooklyn to get professional care services for caregivers and senior adults; or, if you need help with Senior care options in Brooklyn, call us to get a professional consultation with senior care experts. If you want to know more about adult day care services, the professionals at HouseCalls Home Care are excellent resources for learning more about how to care for your aging loved ones. A person with a chronic illness can benefit from better continuity and coordination of treatment by enrolling in a managed long-term care program. Reach out today to learn more about how we can help you enhance your golden years.

Feel free to call HouseCalls Home Care at 718-922-9200 if you or a loved one requires kind and competent in-home care services. Our goal is to assist you in locating the best support for your needs. You can also send an email to us at [email protected] for more information.