Many seniors today rely on family caregivers to help them with all kinds of daily tasks. Illness, disease, injury, surgery and cognitive decline can all play a part in making it so that the aging adult can no longer live independently. As their health issues increase, they need more and more assistance. Family caregivers that try to keep up with full-time care for family members without any other help are candidates for a condition known as caregiver burnout.
What is Caregiver Burnout?
Caregiver burnout is a type of chronic stress that people who look after physically or mentally impaired people deal with every day. It is associated with intense caregiving with no breaks and no time to practice stress management. When there are so many things to do from morning until night, it seems that the hours are all dedicated to the aging adult and none are set aside for the family caregiver. Family caregivers who do everything themselves for their elderly loved ones may not recognize the symptoms when they reflect on their current health and wellness.
What are the Symptoms of Caregiver Burnout?
There are numerous symptoms of caregiver burnout that family caregivers most likely don’t recognize in themselves. However, once they are aware that the condition exists and that what they are feeling is not healthy, they may take another look and see the symptoms that they just assumed were part of it. These are among the most common symptoms that show chronic stress and caregiver burnout are present:
• Weight gain or loss
• Loss of appetite
• Digestive issues
• High blood pressure
• Mood swings
• Anxiety or depression
• Headaches
• Uneven hair loss
• Unexplained back pain or leg pain
• Weakened immune system
• Lack of focus
• Memory recall problems
• Restlessness or nervousness
• Feelings of loneliness
• Inability to sleep well at night
If family caregivers demonstrate several of these symptoms, they need to practice some self-care immediately. The solution to beating stress is finding time to exercise, eat healthy, socialize, meditate, catch up on sleep, indulge in hobbies and step away from caregiving duties. Of course, this can be a real challenge without some assistance from elderly care providers.
How Can Elderly Providers Help?
To add an elderly care provider into an in-home care situation can be tricky but it is well worth it to the family caregiver who may suffer from caregiver burnout. Elderly care providers are adept at taking on all kinds of care tasks that seniors need—light housekeeping, laundry, dressing, grooming, meal preparation, medication reminders, and companionship. With elderly care providers, family caregivers have the time and space they really need to avoid caregiver burnout.
If you or an aging loved one are considering hiring professional Elderly Care Providers in Charlotte, NC, please call the caring staff at BlueDot Cares today, (704) 586-9248.
