One of the main reasons family members take on the role of caregiver is because they love their aging loved ones and they want to help them with a better life and prolonged independence.
Sometimes though, the rewards of caregiving are outweighed by the stress, physical and emotional work, which invariably leads to burnout.
Do you answer, 鈥淵es鈥� to any of these questions?
鈥 am always tired.
鈥 don鈥檛 sleep well.
鈥 get sick more than usual.
鈥 have gained/lost weight unintentionally.
鈥 have back pain, headaches, feelings of fatigue and depression.
鈥 don鈥檛 have time for myself.
鈥 have given up hobbies and reduced contact with friends and family.
鈥 have a short temper and outbursts of anger.
鈥 cry easily.
鈥 worry about not having enough money to make ends meet.
鈥 feel I don鈥檛 have enough knowledge/experience to give proper care.
Reflect on your answers. Ask someone you trust if they are concerned about you or have noticed certain behaviours.
The best way to avoid caregiver burnout is to take action. Karen Henderson from the Long Term Care Network (www.howtocare.com) offers some great tips:
鈥esearch and understand the disease(s) you face so you know what to expect as the condition(s) progresses.
鈥lan early to find ways to support yourself and to stay healthy through diet, exercise, vitamins and supplements, yoga or meditation. Try to avoid making promises you may be unable to keep.
鈥eserve time for yourself 鈥� take time off to pursue some interests or hobby.
鈥nvestigate and use respite service possibilities. Take advantage of offers of help from family, friends and community agencies. Define the help you need by making a list of tasks that others can perform when they offer to help.
鈥ry to put yourself in the other person鈥檚 place to understand why someone may resist care.
鈥e patient with yourself; recognize that some days are going to be more difficult than others.
鈥ry to think of at least one good thing that happened today.
鈥ry to get enough rest.
鈥ave at least one person you can confide in, who can give you support and to whom you can provide support as well through a mutual relationship.
鈥ealize that there may be a time when you will be unable to continue to care for your loved one at home and that you need not feel guilty about this.
鈥earn how to be an advocate for yourself and the person for whom you care.
鈥f you are caring for someone with dementia, investigate residential care facilities in your area and have the paperwork ready should the time come when placement becomes a necessity.
Wendy Johnstone is a gerontologist and is the founder of Solutions for Seniors Eldercare Planning. Her column runs in the Comox Valley Record every second Friday.
