How Caregivers in Santa Cruz and Monterey Counties Can Manage the Stress of Providing In-Home Senior Care

It's easy for family caregivers in Santa Cruz, Scotts Valley, Marina and surrounding California communities to feel stressed when caring for a senior loved one. Here are some ways of coping with the stress that comes with such a huge responsibility.

Caring for a senior parent or relative is a significant and selfless task. It's also not a simple one. While you may appreciate spending quality time with your loved one and ensuring that they can continue to live in their home, being a primary caregiver may be exhausting at times. This is particularly true if you have to combine caring for your immediate family, concentrating on your profession, maintaining your own social life and having time for yourself.

As a family caregiver, you should never be ashamed to confess that you need assistance from time to time. Constant stress may have a negative influence not just on your health and well-being, but also on your capacity to offer the care your loved one needs.

To properly perform your caregiving duties, you must learn how to cope with caregiver stress. You are fortunate in that you have a variety of options for coping strategies. Whether it's taking deep breaths during especially stressful situations or hiring professional caregivers from Visiting Angels Central Coast, it's important to find a solution that works for you so you can continue to offer the senior care your loved one needs without becoming exhausted.

Signs of Caregiver Stress

Before creating coping strategies, it is critical to recognize common indications of caregiver stress. Everyone has a terrible day at some point in their lives, but allowing these bad days to pile up may have a significant impact on your emotional well-being and mental health. It might also have a negative effect on your relationship with a loved one.

If these statements describe your current situation, you may be experiencing caregiver burnout:

• I'm feeling really overwhelmed. If you're continually wondering how you'll ever satisfy all of the obligations put on you as a family caregiver, this might be an indication that you're suffering from caregiver stress.
• I'm having difficulty sleeping. When you have little energy to accomplish anything other than take care of your loved one, falling or staying asleep becomes an even larger obstacle.
• I’m feeling irritated or annoyed with a loved one. Being with someone who requires your assistance at all hours of the day and night might lead you to lose tolerance rapidly.
• I’m too tired to care. When you've been providing 24-hour care for a loved one, you may get exhausted and let some things lapse.
• I'm having trouble focusing. When you're always trying to keep up with everything going on in your loved one's life, it might be difficult to concentrate on other people, projects and activities.
• I’m avoiding social interactions. You may want to spend time with your friends, spouse or children, but you may be so fatigued from caring for your loved one that you are unable to do so.

Fortunately, if you’ve started experiencing symptoms of caregiver burnout, there are many ways you can manage your stress and continue to provide the senior care your loved one needs.

Strategies to Cope with Caregiver Stress

It is entirely up to you how you cope with the stress you experience while performing caregiving responsibilities. You could feel better after talking about your emotions with a close friend, family member or therapist, for example. You may also find relief by engaging in some of your favorite hobbies. Being a family caregiver entails coping with stress in a healthy manner and avoiding burnout so that you can continue to be there for your loved one.

Here are some ways to help deal with stress:

• Venting - By talking to someone about how you're feeling, you may notice that the tension begins to dissipate. Furthermore, communicating with friends and family might assist you in developing a support system that can make caring for a loved one simpler. For example, you could have a buddy in the same circumstance who can provide advice on giving senior care or navigating challenging situations. A family member may agree to split caregiving responsibilities with you during the week so you can find some much-needed respite and relief.
• Keep a personal diary - If you can't find anybody to speak to, putting down your feelings in a diary might help. Making frequent entries might assist you in gaining control of your emotions.
• Develop a self-care routine - Self-care is important for stress management. Taking some time to concentrate on your personal needs will help you manage your stress. Taking some deep breaths or pouring a hot cup of tea might be part of your self-care regimen. Alternatively, you might schedule a personal spa day for yourself or spend a peaceful day at the park.
• Count on Visiting Angels Central Coast - Hiring a professional senior caregiver from Visiting Angels Central Coast can be an excellent long-term alternative for family caregivers who are becoming exhausted. Our caregivers can assist your loved one with everyday duties in the comfort of their own home, as well as provide meaningful company. With professional in-home care, you can concentrate on spending time with your loved one without worrying about taking care of them. You may also spend time with your friends, family or yourself while knowing your loved one is in excellent care.

Call Visiting Angels Central Coast at 831-430-0616 to learn how our home care services help seniors and family caregivers!