Excerpt from A Caregiver’s Love Story.
Caregiver burnout is a real and serious problem for long-term caregivers. If you go to bed every night agonizing over the next day’s chores, and wake up every morning feeling heavy and unwilling to do it, that’s a serious problem. Caregivers who only dread the next day’s chores will come to dislike the daily caregiving routine even if they still love the person they care for. There are no longer vacations or long weekends for people to take a break and take care of themselves.
Until the day these caregivers are no longer physically or emotionally able to force themselves out of bed, without seeking help through counseling or accepting suggestions to change the caregiving day routine. , you may struggle with misfortune every month.
Emotional outbursts directed at the person being cared for may occur, which may indicate “compassion fatigue.” Yelling at someone who is ill or disabled can cause caregivers to lose emotional control and feel guilty for saying or doing hurtful things. The caregiver role can ruin a loving relationship if it becomes too burdensome.
These caregivers need to find alternatives to ensure their loved ones are well cared for and able to take breaks. If so, the current care plan or schedule should be revisited to prevent a toxic environment for both caregivers and recipients. Don’t ignore your own fatigue. Eat right, take prescribed medicines, and vitamins and supplements recommended by your doctor.
Most caregivers are inexperienced about how long they will be in the role and what they need to do to keep their loved ones safe, fed, warm, and on the right medications. Caregiving can begin with the basic needs of helping someone dress or eat, but as someone’s illness lasts perhaps years, that role becomes exponential. It can be expanded functionally.
Nursing is a marathon. Families who blindly accept this role are like misguided runners who have no idea how far they have to run in flip-flops and skirts. They are unprepared and may trip or fall at the start of the race. Caregiver stumbles can have dire consequences for the caregiver and the caregiver. This marathon may have no end in sight, so it’s important not to ignore the strain on caregivers and elevated stress levels. , you are constantly evaluating your body. These symptoms cannot be ignored and can lead to serious injury. Caregivers also need to be aware of physical symptoms, such as headaches and neck or back pain, and emotional symptoms, such as persistent irritability and hopelessness, both of which can impair their ability to provide care. there is.
Ignoring burnout can have long-term consequences, including premature death of caregivers and health problems that lead to the need for caregiving. The heavy burden of caregiving can gradually overwhelm even the healthiest, most committed and most prepared individuals. This is especially true for lone caregivers who may have no external support.
Support groups and counseling can be very helpful in helping caregivers cope with the stress of daily caregiving and self-care. There are several groups here in my community, many in a computer “Zoom” format as many caregivers find it difficult to leave their homes.
So are you a caregiver? Whatever your role as a caregiver, wear this proudly if the title fits. . Whatever your job, you are a caregiver. Be honest with yourself and embrace your new relationship with your loved one. Learn to delegate some of your caregiver duties and free up some time for your own emotional support. focus on
Dying with dignity is important to all of us and you, as a caregiver, are proud to have supported your loved one through a peaceful, dignified life and ultimately a dignified death. , should be honored.
Nancy Weisman Atwater is the author of The Caregiver’s Love Story.
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