Do you know what it means to burnout from something? Not everyone does, even though most of us have experienced emotional turmoil and toil at some point in our life. As a family caregiver, the risk of burning out, even quickly, is tremendous.
That’s because of the incredible stress and pressure being a caregiver for an aging parent, grandparent, disabled adult child, spouse, or somebody else you love is enormous. You may not feel like it is at the time, especially when you first support this individual, but the stress and pressure build over time.
What does it mean to burnout as a family caregiver?
Whether you are a friend or family member, being a caregiver is an incredibly important job. It’s a responsibility not everyone can take on. Still, even though you stepped up to the plate, didn’t blink when this senior needed help, that doesn’t mean you are immune to burning out.
When you burnout as a caregiver, there is an increased chance you will not stop by at a certain time, especially if you’re feeling overwhelmed.
For example, maybe this senior expects you to stop over after work on Tuesdays and Thursdays. Perhaps you bring a meal, do some grocery shopping, bring in the mail, the garbage cans, or run other activities and errands for him or her.
Yet, this Tuesday you are feeling completely overwhelmed by family pressures, an argument with your spouse or partner, your teenage son or daughter has been having trouble at school and now you don’t know what to do, you’ve been reprimanded at work, or something else happened and you just want to scream.
You slip in behind the wheel of your car, grip the steering wheel, and stare into space. You can’t even get yourself to put the car in reverse or drive.
You want to scream even louder, not even concerned anybody might hear you. So, instead of stopping by that aging senior’s house to look after him or her, you call and say you will be late.
Then, ‘late’ never comes.
Maybe you go to a favorite secluded hideaway, a park, a lake, or pull up somewhere and just sit and feel the tightness in your chest, a headache coming on, and other symptoms of a panic attack or extreme anxiety.
You just can’t do it. Not today. So, you may not even call this aging senior to say you won’t be able to stop by at all.
Does that sound familiar? If so, it’s called burning out. If not, if you continue trying to push through the stress and strain of taking care of this aging senior in your life, that possibility, that scenario could become a reality before too long.
Turn to an experienced caregiver for help.
An experienced, dedicated home care aide through an agency can help you avoid burning out as a caregiver because they can step in and provide part-time care as you need it. This is the best way to avoid burnout as a caregiver.