What You Should Know About Caregiver Burnout
If you are acting as a caregiver for an elderly loved one, you may find yourself facing a lot of mental and physical exhaustion after a while. You may also feel some guilt for having those feelings. These are feelings that are common for caregivers and can ultimately take a toll on your own health. Caregiver burnout is a common affliction that is dealt with by so many who spend much of their time taking care of a loved one. If you are feeling like you may have caregiver burnout, consider the following:
What Are Some Signs of Caregiver Burnout?
There are some signs that you might be suffering from burnout as you provide care for an elderly loved one. You might find that you are irritable and feeling helpless and tired all the time. You may have less interest in things you normally enjoy or even withdraw from your social life. Your sleeping patterns may change, you may not want to eat, and you may feel a loss of hope. You could also even begin to resent the loved one you are caring for.
What Should You Do for Caregiver Burnout?
If you are dealing with any of these signs of caregiver burnout, there are some options. The best source of help is from a home health provider. You can hire a home health aide to come for a few hours each day or several times a week to help you. You may even be able to leave the house for a period of time to get some respite from your daily caregiving. A professional home health aide will help with some of the normal daily activities your loved one needs. These can include bathing, getting dressed, and taking care of their hygiene. Home health aides also help with cooking, cleaning, and general homemaking. In addition, a home health aide is there to be a friend to both you and your loved one. They can listen to concerns you have or just be an ear. Contact a company like Richard Health Systems to learn more about home health aide services.
In addition to hiring a home health aide, you have to take some time for yourself in some way. Enlist the help of friends or other family members and allow them to help you. If someone asks how they can help, ask if they can provide you with a meal or a couple of hours of time so you can go to the grocery store. Try to get good rest and take part in some hobbies you can enjoy as time allows.