Caregiving Stress and Burnout are Real
Caregiving tasks demand physical, emotional, social, and economic sacrifices.
Caregiving Stress and Burnout are Real
Caregiving tasks demand physical, emotional, social, and economic sacrifices.
Who and What is Caregiving?
Stepping up to care for a family or friend does not come naturally for some people. Relationships are complicated and stressful times often reveals deep wounds of the past. Also, providing intimate hands-on care frightens away some very loving caring people. The first step is the process is defining needs.
53mm
unpaid family caregivers in US
40%
Alzheimer’s Disease caregivers that die before their loved one
40%
caregivers who report care as a heavy burden
1st Step
Get Organized
Caregiving commonly starts with an unexpected health event. The first step is putting the puzzle together.
2nd Step
Assessing Needs and Resources
How can help? How much where? What kind of help is needed? There are many questions to answer in building a successful care plan.
3rd Step
Document the Care Plan
A care plan brings order and predictability to this journey. Balancing needs and resources is essential
4th Step
Secure backup care
Model healthy behaviors with respite care services. Caregiving impacts every aspect of the life. Building in wellness breaks is vital for success.
Notes from the Author
Juggling a job and caring for a loved one can be challenging, but it can be done with careful planning and communication. Here are a few tips that may help:
- Communicate with your employer: Let your employer know about your caregiving responsibilities and see if there are any flexible work arrangements that could help, such as telecommuting or a flexible schedule.
- Prioritize and plan: Make a list of the tasks that need to be done for your mother and prioritize them by importance. Create a schedule that allows you to balance your work and caregiving responsibilities.
- Seek help: Investigate respite care options, such as in-home care or adult daycare, to give yourself some time off to focus on work or other responsibilities.
- Utilize technology: Investigate technology that can help you keep in touch with your mother and manage her care remotely, such as video conferencing or remote monitoring devices.
- Seek support: Reach out to support groups or counseling services for caregivers to help you cope with the emotional and physical demands of caregiving.
It’s important to remember that you cannot do it all by yourself, you should never be afraid of seeking help, be it from a professional or from family and friends. Caregiving can be demanding but with a plan and support, you can find a way to balance your job and your caregiving responsibilities.
Monica Stynchula – CEO / REUNIONCare, Inc.
