4 Signs of Burnout in Family Members

By Gauthier Family Home Care | June 17, 2015 | Comments Off on 4 Signs of Burnout in Family Members

Caregiver in Comstock Park MI

Family caregivers often feel that they can keep going for months or even years. While that’s admirable, everyone needs rest and time to renew themselves. A common ailment that family caregivers encounter Caregiver in Comstock Park MIis burnout. This is when they’ve given so much time and energy that they’re exhausted on every level. Professional caregiver services can help family caregivers recognize the problem and resolve it before it’s too late.

Withdrawing Emotionally

Family members who spend a lot of time caring for their elderly loved ones may not notice themselves turning down invitations from friends and other family members because it happens gradually. Then maybe they stop going out with their significant others for date night, or other little things. Gradually, their world shrinks down to the bare basics. This is a huge sign of caregiver burnout because eventually they just don’t have the excess emotional bandwidth to keep doing everything. In-home care helps because family caregivers realize that they don’t have to do everything completely on their own and they can take time to renew themselves.

Unrelieved Exhaustion

If caregivers find that they’re sleeping during every available moment and still feeling exhausted, burnout is a likely cause. The stress of trying to be there for their elderly relative at every turn can really take a toll on family caregivers. With help from home care providers, though, family caregivers get both a mental and a physical break from trying too hard. Combined with other techniques, such as getting regular exercise, family caregivers can get that bounce back in their step.

Depression

It’s tough to watch an elderly relative go through painful situations. Whether it’s finding the right diagnosis for an ailment or simply having to cope with the losses their elderly relative is experiencing, it’s hard for family caregivers to stay upbeat all the time. Depression tends to go hand in hand with the caregiver withdrawing from normal activities, and it may also creep up without much notice. WebMD recommends that family caregivers find people to talk to and seek medical attention for themselves as soon as they realize they’re dealing with depression themselves.

Getting Sick More Often

A study at Carnegie Melon University proved that stress inhibits the body’s natural ability to reduce and to control inflammation. Increases in inflammation then lead to either developing or worsening existing ailments. What this means for a family caregiver is that the stress of managing their elderly relative’s care can cause serious consequences if they aren’t taking care of themselves as well. Elder care help means that family caregivers can spend the time that they need to recharge themselves, eat nutritional meals, and get some exercise of their own in during the day to keep their stress levels, and their potential for becoming ill, in check.

Taking advantage of senior care options helps caregivers not only to feel that they’re providing all the help that they can for their elderly relatives, it also keeps them healthier and in a better frame of mind to do what they can for their family members.

If you or someone you know needs help with caregiver services in Comstock Park, MI, contact Gauthier Family Home Care. We provide quality and affordable home care services in our community. Call us at (616) 258-2300 for more information.

Source
http://www.webmd.com/heart-disease/heart-disease-recognizing-caregiver-burnout?page=2

http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2012/04/120402162546.htm

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