Burnout in caregivers: 10 suggestions to prevent it happening

Burnout is emotional and physical exhaustion caused by prolonged stress.

Burnout happens as a result of extreme overload over an extended period of time.

Burnout is not something that only happens to high-powered, overworked business executives.  Caregivers also can experience burnout.  And they do!

A caregiver maybe someone who is primary carer for a terminally ill loved one, or primary carer for a family member with Alzheimer's Disease, or a severely disabled child, or perhaps a chronically ill family member.

Usually the caregiver is juggling many roles within the family, for example, other family members to look after, running the house including cooking, and perhaps working as well. 

The person requiring care often has many medical and treatment needs and appointments, may require special food, which all needs to be done by the caregiver.  Taking on the role of caregiver involves many extra responsibilities.

It can be extremely emotionally and physically taxing providing care for someone you love.

For the person who is experiencing profound stress over a prolonged period of time, here are 10 suggestions to keep in mind which may prevent burnout from happening:

• make sure you eat properly.  All too often caregivers neglect themselves because they are too busy being caregiver.  It's important to make sure you get proper food and drinks.  You will become rundown if you neglect yourself over a long period of time and when you become rundown you are more susceptible to getting sick and staying sick for a lot longer than you usually would
• you are not indispensable.  Although the burden of care may fall on you it is important to remember, and to remind others around you, that if you get sick you will no longer be able to carry out the roles and responsibilities you are doing now
• recognise your limitations -- everybody has a limit of what they can and cannot do.  For a short period of time it is OK to stretch yourself but you cannot do this indefinitely
• ask for help -- even though it may seem no one can help you, many people are often willing to do something if they only know what.  It could be anything from asking someone to do your shopping, pick up something, bring something, water the garden, babysit, cook a meal, or take over for a little while
• on the other hand, sometimes people don't offer help because the caregiver has given a clear indication that he or she doesn't want or need help.  Sometimes caregivers can be too independent!  When someone offers help... say "yes please"! 
• make sure you get regular time out -- for example, meet up with friends for coffee or lunch, see a movie, go for a walk around the block.  Go somewhere or do something that will give you physical and emotional breathing space
• offload to someone -- it is important for everyone to have someone they can talk to, someone they can offload to.  Offloading can go a long way in preventing burnout from happening
• almost every community in the world has a voluntary telephone counselling service where people can call and talk to someone on the other end of the phone.  This service is usually free and anonymous.  Such places are often listed in the front page of the telephone directory
• if you have no one to talk to, and you cannot use a telephone counselling service, write out your thoughts and feelings.  The important thing is to get your thoughts and feelings out in whatever way you can
• you may benefit from talking with a doctor, counsellor or social worker who may be able to get outside services to provide assistance to you.  There are many agencies and places within the community you can access for all kinds of assistance e.g. financial, practical support such as voluntary transport which can reduce some of pressure for you

Burnout can happen when you are overloaded.  But there are many things that can be done to prevent the stress and responsibilities turning into burnout.

But remember, you don't have to do it alone!

If you would like any more information... please do not hesitate to contact me -- you can e-mail me or leave a comment by clicking on the comment link below.  I'd love to hear from you.

Best wishes
Jeanne

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Comments

[Carol O'Dell]

Lots of good hints here!

Caregiver burnout is very, very real. In the almost three years I cared for my mom full-time, in my home (She has Alzheimer's and Parkinson's), there were times when I truly felt at the end of my rope.

It so helps to get out among the "living" and realize that life goes on--and that you too, must go on.

Begin to build a life outside of caregiving--even if it's just a few minutes a day. In the end, your loved one will pass away, and you need to have something to turn to.

~Carol D. O'Dell
Author of Mothering Mother: A Daughter's Humorous and Heartbreaking Memoir, available on Amazon
www.mothering-mother.com

[Jeanne May]

Thanks for sharing your story Carol -- many people can identify with this topic and it is good to hear what others have gone through and experienced.

And when we are caring for a parent... there's the other added aspect of stress where there is typically role reversal -- the child looks after the parent as the parent once did for the child -- this can be difficult for many people.

Looking forward to hearing from you again.

Best wishes
Jeanne