Caring for an elderly loved one entails a lot of patience, hard work, and understanding, especially if you’re caring for someone who has a health condition and specific healthcare needs. If it’s been years that you’ve served as the primary caregiver of an aging relative or parent and you feel not only tired but completely exhausted, do not think that you’re becoming a bad or irresponsible person. Caregiver stress is absolutely normal and you can learn how to cope.
Caregiver Stress: Reaching the Limit
An AARP.org article reported that a study found that as many as 1 in 3 caregivers rate their stress level as high, and almost 50% say they have less quality time with family and friends. Indeed, when you’re looking after a sick or even a dying loved one, it can be easy to forget that you need to care for yourself, as well. Therefore, you have to keep things in your life balanced and know when to admit that you need help.
Signs of Caregiver Stress
So, how can you tell if caregiving is taking its toll on your physical and psychological well-being? Here are some signs that you have to look out for: emotional instability (i.e. moodiness, anger outbursts), decreased immunity (you easily get sick), less social interaction/activities (you can’t even recall the last time you went out with a friend), difficulty sleeping, and feeling tired and run down.
Dealing with Caregiver Stress and Preventing Burnout
To give yourself a break, it’s a good idea for you to invest in Fairfax, VA home health care services from leading companies like Comfort Keepers of Fairfax, VA. By spreading the responsibility and delegating some of your tasks, you’ll be able to balance the scales between your daily life and caregiving. You don’t always have to be the only one responsible. As a matter of fact, the better you care for yourself, the more you can provide quality care to your loved one.
A dependable Fairfax home health care service even makes it a point to offer family education services to teach families the basics of caring for the elderly. Should you decide to work with home health care professionals and take advantage of their family education program, you’ll learn the best ways to sympathetically and properly address the needs of your loved one. After learning all that you can, coping with caregiver stress should also come naturally to you and the rest of your family.
(Source: 10 Ways to Deal With Caregiver Stress, AARP.org)
Comfort Keepers of Fairfax, VA 