What is Caregiver Burnout and How Can You Take Good Care of the Caregivers in Your Family?

Being a caregiver is generous. It’s kind. It’s selfless. Family caregivers are heroes; they’re saints.

While it’s good to acknowledge and support those who do the heavy physical and emotional work that caregiving involves, it’s also important to truly see what they are taxed with and to recognize what they need from their support system. According to a report conducted by the AARP and the National Alliance for Caregiving (NAC) “Thirty-six percent of family caregivers characterize their situation as highly stressful.” Caregiving is a difficult job. Those who do it need physical help and emotional care.

Family caregivers may feel disloyal by articulating what’s difficult about the role. Likewise, they may find it hard to ask for what they need. Caregivers may be also too busy to reflect on their own needs - they may even feel guilty about their own needs. When a family member takes care of a loved one, they assume a tremendous and complex role. 

To care for the caregivers in your family, be aware of what they’re taxed with and what they’re doing on a daily basis. Then focus on their needs. Consider these measures for caring for the caregiver in your family.  

Learning on the fly

Many family caregivers learn the intricacies of their role as they go. The demands of care can be complex and they can be outside of the caregiver’s professional and personal experience. Family caregivers have assumed their role because they love the person to whom they are providing care, and they want to do the best job they can. In some ways, they are like new parents. They are approaching a complex responsibility with the best intentions to provide excellent care and to learn the ropes as they go.

But the work can be demanding, especially if the caregiver is also a senior. Sometimes your loved one may not be easy to care for; in the case of seniors with dementia, for example, they may be easily agitated and unappreciative of their loved one’s efforts.

Learning how to keep their loved one properly groomed, bathed, well-nourished, safe, current on medications and socially stimulated, while also ensuring that the house is clean and the fridge and pantry are stocked is a lot to balance. 

Caregiver burnout

The Cleveland Clinic explains: “Caregivers often are so busy caring for others that they tend to neglect their own emotional, physical and spiritual health. The demands on a caregiver's body, mind and emotions can easily seem overwhelming, leading to fatigue, hopelessness and ultimately burnout.” The symptoms of burnout, the clinic further explains, are similar to those associated with depression. These may include frequent illness, inability to sleep, irritability, changes in appetite, social withdraw, thoughts of self-harm or thoughts about violence towards the person to whom they provide care.

Supporting caregivers

If a friend of family member is assisting as a caregiver, create a network around that person. This way, the work can be distributed, and it will be easier, then, to handle. These are some ways to share the job.

• Invite professional support: Visiting Angels Caregivers visit on a routine basis to assist with some of the regular chores associated with care. Shopping, running errands, grooming, bathing, cooking, light cleaning, etc. This gives family caregivers a break they can count on, and routine help with some of the heavy lifting. Enhanced services like private duty care and respite care are also available, giving family caregivers enhanced support. 
• Listen to caregivers: family caregivers need to be able to share what they are struggling with, without feeling guilty for expressing what challenges them. Be that kind ear for the caregiver in your family. Allow them to speak freely about what they are struggling with. Assure them that they have nothing to feel guilty about. It may be helpful to encourage them to seek the support of a trained therapist. They are doing emotionally challenging work. Encourage them to get whatever support they need to be well-positioned to continue that work.
• Visit: While this is not the easiest thing to do during the Covid-19 pandemic, be a presence however you can. Visit if possible. Send cards and letters. Call as much as possible. Let your loved ones know that they are a part of a community that cares for them. Offer help instead of waiting for them to ask.
• Honor your caregivers: Family caregivers are heroes and they are saints. They should know that! Those words are only meaningful, though, if there is action behind them. Say the words and do the actions. Support your family caregivers with everything you’ve got!