There’s no question that it’s a wonderful honor to care for those we love. Family caregivers experience a closeness and connection with those in their care that usually far outweighs the downsides. But there are challenges. A continuous to-do list to ensure the senior you are providing care for is as healthy and happy as possible. Household activities and errands to manage. Job responsibilities. The needs of other members of the family and friends. And don’t overlook self-care.
The end result is an often daunting level of stress, that when left unchecked, can easily escalate to caregiver depression as well as burnout that may develop in any or all of the following ways:
- Thoughts of anger, unhappiness, hopelessness, stress
- Difficulty with falling or staying asleep during the night
- Lack of interest in previously-loved activities
- Eating significantly more or less than usual
- Delayed thinking
- And if left untreated, suicidal thoughts, or even attempts at suicide
This short online evaluation will allow you to determine whether you may be suffering from depression.
The good news is, there are easy steps to take to reduce your potential for falling into depression:
- First and foremost, make an appointment with your physician for assistance
- Refrain from isolating yourself and ensure lots of opportunities for socialization outside of your caregiving relationship
- Stay active, both physically and mentally, with activities you love: swimming, playing a sport, reading, volunteering with a cause that’s important to you personally
While it may be challenging for family caregivers to carve out the time required for self-care, it is vitally important to the wellbeing of both the caregivers themselves as well as the seniors in their care. And typically, family members feel as if they must do it all by themselves – after all, they know the older adult much better than anyone else, and quite often it just seems easier to manage things independently.
An overly stressed, burned out, or depressed caregiver needs to have trustworthy, reliable support – and the good news is, it is easily available! An expert home caregiver can provide as much or as little help as necessary. Perhaps, for example, you want to continue to prepare all the meals for a loved one – but would like some help with cleaning up the kitchen afterwards. Or maybe your parent would feel more comfortable with a professional caregiver providing help with personal care needs, such as bathing and using the toilet.
At Amy’s Helping Hands, top providers of home care in Windsor-Essex, we know how complicated life can become for family caregivers, and we work with families to develop a plan of care that meets each person’s unique desires and needs. Let us help with trustworthy, professional respite care. Contact us at 519.915.4370 any time to find out more.
