Getting Help for Burnout

Caring for a loved one who is no longer able to fully take care of themselves without help is a noble endeavor. It’s an act of love and compassion that many family members take on when their elderly loved ones need a little assistance to continue to thrive in their current life stage. But no matter how well-intentioned caregiving is or how much you may love the person you are providing care for, it’s perfectly normal and quite common for a caregiver to feel burned out occasionally. A home care service program can help caregivers find the relief they need by stepping in and providing safe and reliable assistance with various home care needs.

Caring can entail helping someone remain in their home by assisting around the home and property. It can focus on providing needed transportation for an elderly loved one who can no longer drive. It might be having your elderly loved one move in with you when her illness becomes too much for her to handle on her own. There are many stages of caregiving and all are honorable and important to you and your loved one.

What Causes Burnout For Caregivers?

Generally speaking, caregivers get burned out when they reach a point where the care they are providing their loved ones has caused them to neglect their care. Not caring for your own needs can make you much more susceptible to other wellness concerns. Add that onto some of the other factors such as role confusion, lack of support, too many responsibilities, and an inability to control outcomes, and burnout is almost guaranteed if caregiving takes place over an extended amount of time.

Three Key Areas Burnout Can Present Itself

What does burnout look like? Burnout will begin to show itself in these three main areas.

Mentally: You might begin to experience intense mood swings that aren’t always appropriate for the situation. You feel irritable and unable to calmly manage situations. You might also begin to deal with brain fog and a lack of concentration, making decision-making and problem-solving difficult.

Physically: Physically, your health may begin to show signs of burnout. It’s common for those with burnout to get sick more often because of a weakened immune system or to struggle with tension headaches and an inability to sleep at night.

Socially: Caregivers who feel burned out may not be able to drum up the energy to attend social events that they used to enjoy or they might find themselves struggling in other areas like work or family life.

Getting Home Care Assistance for Your Loved One Can Help You Find Relief

There is hope for caregivers, even those who don’t have family members or friends that can step in and provide support. By having a home care provider take on specific responsibilities, a caregiver can allow themselves to focus on what is important to their caregiving journey.

Some areas a home care provider can offer assistance include:

• Providing transportation for your elderly loved one to appointments
• Assisting in mealtime tasks such as shopping with your loved one, meal prepping, or cleaning up afterward.
• Being a companion helps prevent loneliness and isolation.
• Helping with daily care needs such as grooming and bathing.
• Offering light housekeeping help like the laundry or dusting.

If you or an aging loved one is considering Home Care Services in Roswell GA, please contact the caring staff at CaraVita Home Care today. (770) 643-1712