With all the responsibilities confronting caregivers along with balancing work, family, social and other responsibilities, it’s not uncommon to get overwhelmed and burnt out.
This is now referred to as “caregiver fatigue”. Often caregivers get so involved in caregiving that they hit a breaking point. Here are some common signs of caregiver fatigue:
Constant state of being tired
Sense of hopelessness
Health issues
Physical symptoms
Depression
Retreating from others and activities
Working caregivers can experience an understandable impact at their job. Signs often include:
Increased absenteeism
Inability to complete assignments and tasks
Inability to meet deadlines
Strong reluctance toward change
For many, caregiving is a full time job and for many a second job. If you are a caregiver, it is critical to find ways to sustain yourself. The following are fundamentals that I stress with the caregivers I assist:
Let go of needing to be “the perfect caregiver” and focus on being a loving caregiver
Learn to delegate
Ask for and accept help
Get time away from caregiving
Vivian Green Korner, MA, Certified Dementia Practitioner, is a dementia care specialist in private practice. She works with families who need guidance, direction and help with decisions that they need to make when caring for an individual with dementia. Vivian’s goal is to support families with practical advice, solutions to deal with the many challenges and help families to find the best match to programs, services and professionals.
Viviangreenkorner.com | 201.960.4277
Comments