Taking care of an elderly loved one for an extended time commonly becomes stressful for the caregiver. There are several factors that contribute to caregiver stress. Recognizing the causes and making adjustments can help you reduce daily stress and prevent burnout.
Fear
Having to care for a senior with a serious or progressive medical condition could leave you worried about what the future may hold. You might fear not being able to meet your loved one’s needs or manage potential emergency situations. Combating the fear and uncertainty requires gaining knowledge on an ongoing basis about your parent’s medical condition and what to expect. Caregiving classes and support groups are ideal for gaining information and experience.
A professional caregiver can be a wonderful source of support for family caregivers who are feeling the effects of stress. When researching agencies that provide home care services, Waterloo, ON, families are usually looking for flexible care plans, compassionate and highly trained caregivers, and 24/7 availability. Whether you need respite care to take a break from your caregiving duties or your senior loved one needs around-the-clock assistance at home, you can rely on Home Care Assistance.
Role Shifts
Parents are commonly viewed as the rocks of the family. It’s not unusual for adult children to seek the knowledge and support of a parent. When that parent becomes incapacitated due to illness or injury, adult children may feel lost. Seeing a parent as helpless is often difficult for family caregivers. You may unintentionally feel abandoned, angry, or depressed, but you must come to terms with the situation to be an effective caregiver.
Avoiding Self-Care
You must make the time to eat healthy to ensure your body has the fuel and nutrients needed to have the energy and strength to fulfill your daily duties, and you must also ensure you get seven to nine hours of restful sleep each night. The mind and body need this time to relax, repair, and rejuvenate. Engaging in some type of exercise regularly is necessary to maintain physical strength. Take breaks away from caregiving and spend time with friends or other family members. Having a side hobby also helps in the rejuvenation process.
Family caregivers need to care for their own wellbeing, too. If you’re caring for an aging loved one and are feeling overwhelmed, consider hiring a professional caregiver to provide respite care. Waterloo families who want to prevent burnout can turn to Home Care Assistance. One of our professional caregivers can assist your loved one at home while you take a nap, go to work, run errands, or go on vacation.
Isolation
Caregivers with loved ones who need care day and night often have little time for anyone or anything else. They become so immersed in meeting their loved ones’ needs that they unintentionally isolate themselves. Providing care around the clock makes it difficult to find time for yourself. In time, you might become angry, resentful, or depressed. Realize you cannot possibly provide care day and night without assistance. Make arrangements with other family members or an in-home care company to share your caregiving duties.
Guilt
Providing care on a daily basis and being around your loved one continually are bound to create trying moments. You might express a moment of anger toward your parent or experience other negative thoughts or feelings. By the end of the day or over time, you may entertain feelings of guilt about how you behaved or the thoughts that entered your mind. These feelings and thoughts are normal. Attending support group meetings enables you to see you’re not alone in your experience.
If you’re feeling stressed and overwhelmed by your caregiving responsibilities, a professional caregiver can provide the support and encouragement you and your loved one need. Caring for a senior loved one can be challenging for families who don’t have expertise or professional training in home care, but this challenge doesn’t have to be faced alone. Family caregivers can turn to Waterloo Home Care Assistance for the help they need. We provide high-quality live-in and respite care as well as comprehensive Alzheimer’s, dementia, stroke, and Parkinson’s care. To learn about our high-quality in-home care services, give us a call at (519) 954-2111 today.