ARE YOU IN DANGER OF CAREGIVER BURNOUT?

Caring for an elderly loved one, while rewarding, is not for the faint of heart. The stress of being a caregiver 24 hours a day, 7 days a week can quickly escalate to the point of caregiver burnout – leading to fatigue, the potential for less patience with the loved one and more emotional outbursts. Not only then is the caregiver affected by burnout, but the care recipient suffers as well.

It is important to recognize if you, as a caregiver, are in danger of experiencing caregiver burnout and seek outside help if needed. Take a look at some of the questions below to help determine if caregiver burnout is already present or may be in your near future:

• Have you given up favorite activities or hobbies? • Are you developing back pain, headaches, daily fatigue, and/or depression? • Are you getting sick more than usual? • Is your temper shorter than normal in public or with friends and family? • Do you lash out at your loved one when he or she behaves erratically or becomes difficult? • Are your other emotions more touchy than usual? Are you experiencing despair or crying for little or no reason? • Have you gained or lost weight unintentionally? • Do you suffer from lack of sleep or chronic insomnia?

If any of these red flags of caregiver burnout apply to you, it may be time to consider getting some help, for both yourself and your loved one. At AAging Better In-Home Care, we’re here to help share the load by providing respite care services from as little as two hours a week all the way up to around-the-clock, 24-hour care, if needed. Please call us at 208-777-0308 if in the Coeur d’Alene, Post Falls or Hayden areas; 208-263-7889 if in the Sandpoint, Bonners Ferry or Priest River areas; and 208-784-1505 if in the Kellogg, Pinehurst or Wallace areas to learn more about the services we can offer you or your loved one to help lower your stress level and maximize the quality of life for both of you.