What Does Caregiver Burnout Look Like?

By Marlene Diaz | August 10, 2017 |

Becoming the caregiver to an aging parent poses challenges in more ways than one. Your parent may resent your interference in daily routines. Your work may not appreciate the time you’re taking off. Your own spouse and children may feel neglected when you’re away so often. Family caregiver burnout is a real possibility. Learn to recognize the signs before you reach your breaking point.

Caregiver Tacoma WA – What Does Caregiver Burnout Look Like?

Emotional Strain

The emotional strain of providing unpaid care to an aging parent is clear. You may feel helpless, depressed, and suffer from mood swings. As your stress increases, you may find yourself snapping at your mom or dad. You turn your back on your friends and get frustrated that they keep saying you need to go out with them and ignore your mom or dad. You no longer find things you once loved interesting.

You find yourself becoming excessively irritable and that carries over to your job. You worry about everything when you’re not with your aging parent. You can’t sleep. You get frustrated that you’re back at your parent’s house when you have other things to do. All of this is the emotional stress you deal with as a family caregiver.

Physical Strain

As your stress increases, your physical health may be impacted. You’re not sleeping, so your immune system is affected. You’re picking up colds and other viruses more easily than in the past. You’re not eating properly, so you’re gaining or losing weight. You’re struggling to control the stress, so you may start using alcohol or sugary/fatty foods as you self-medicate your stress away. This all impacts your health. It puts a strain on things like your liver, your cholesterol levels, and your heart.

What Can You Do to Prevent It?

To prevent family caregiver burnout, you need what’s known as “me time.” You need some time each day, every few days, or once a week where you focus only on yourself. Lock yourself in the bathroom and take a long, relaxing bath. Sleep in late and watch movies with your kids all day. Go to the beach and listen to the tide coming in.

In order to take a necessary break, bring in caregivers to care for your aging mom or dad. Caregivers aren’t there to boss your parent around. They’ll become a trusted friend. You get the breaks you need to stay in peak emotional and physical health. Your parent gains help around the house and know that when you return, you’ll be in a better mood.

If you or an aging loved one are considering Caregiver Services in Tacoma WA, contact the caring staff at Hospitality Home Care today. Call us at (206) 966-6552.

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Marlene Diaz

Care Supervisor at Hospitality Home Care

Marlene brings to Hospitality Home Care's Care Supervisor Team an unprecedented level of passion for caring for others and a wealth of knowledge and understanding in the care services field. Marlene has worked in the healthcare field for more than 15 years in a variety of settings including, adult family home administration, home care HR supervising and working with specialty populations including dementia, mental health and developmental disabilities. Throughout this time Marlene has also maintained her caregiver credentials that she obtained as a teenager because, while her knowledge is best served helping to train caregivers and assist families to get the care they need, her heart is most fulfilled when she is providing care to others. When she is not in the office, you will most likely find Marlene caring for her family, or spending time with her friends.