Taking care of an aging loved one is a compassionate and selfless gesture, but you also have to consider your own health and wellness. Devoting all of your energy to serving others can result in emotional or physical fatigue, so finding balance is essential for caregivers. If you’re the primary caregiver for an elderly relative, you may wonder what is caregiver burden and how you can prevent or manage it. By equipping yourself with tools and strategies to prevent caregiver burden and burnout, you can continue to care for your loved one without exhausting yourself.
What Is Caregiver Burden?
Caregiver burden is the physical, mental, or emotional toll of caring for an aging, sick, or disabled individual. This term usually refers to family members who take on an informal caregiver role as they may not have formal training for caring for their loved one’s medical needs and likely don’t receive financial compensation.
Your caregiver burden is the total stress or impact you feel from acting as a caretaker. Some people may experience only small and manageable amounts of caregiver burden, and others may face extreme stress that feels impossible to cope with. Your experience with caregiver burden can even fluctuate from day to day. On some days, you may feel perfectly calm and under control. On other days, your caretaker responsibilities may pile up until they feel inescapable.
The following are some contributing factors that can worsen caregiver burden:
- Balancing full-time employment or taking care of your children while also acting as a caretaker for an aging relative
- Feeling unsupported by other family members
- Lack of time for your own hobbies and interests
- Experiencing financial strain due to your role as a caregiver
- Feeling obligated to be a caretaker or not being given a choice to become a caretaker
Caregiver Burden vs. Burnout
The terms “caregiver burden” and “caregiver burnout” are sometimes used interchangeably, but they have two different meanings. Caregiver burden is the weight of all the physical, mental, and emotional tasks and responsibilities that you experience when caring for a loved one. Burnout, on the other hand, is a state of extreme exhaustion that can occur when the burden becomes too heavy or persists for too long.
Anyone who acts as a primary caregiver for another person carries some amount of burden. However, not everyone who experiences caregiver burden will develop burnout. The key to avoiding burnout is to recognize your caregiver burden and put measures in place to ease the load so that your life feels sustainable.
5 Signs of Caregiver Burden
The effects of caregiver burden can build up slowly, so it can take a long time for someone to realize how much their life has been impacted by being a caregiver. Understanding the signs of caregiver burden can help you be more proactive in managing it. Here are some of the most common warning signs to be concerned about:
1. You feel like you’re in over your head and aren’t properly trained.
One of the biggest contributors to caregiver burden is a lack of adequate training to handle your loved one’s medical needs. If your relative needs skilled medical care, they are hopefully receiving the services they need from a healthcare professional. However, many caregivers feel like they’re left to fill in the gaps, which can be very overwhelming. Although you may feel more confident with certain caregiving tasks as you gain experience, the process of learning to provide medical care as a layperson is incredibly stressful.
2. You don’t have enough hours in the day.
Everyone has days where they don’t have time to complete their to-do list. If you feel like you’re running out of time every day, though, you probably have too much on your plate. You deserve a balanced life, and feeling frantic to get as much done as possible is a sign that you’re overworked.
3. You feel anxious when falling asleep or when you first wake up.
Constant worry is one of the most common signs of caregiver burden. You might find it difficult to fall asleep because you’re already thinking about what you have to do tomorrow, or you may start worrying about your tasks as soon as you wake up in the morning. This persistent stress and anxiety can be very damaging to your mental health.
4. You feel like you don’t have a support system.
Taking care of an aging loved one can feel much more manageable when you have a strong support network to fall back on. If you feel like you’re doing it all on your own, your caregiver burden is likely too intense. This can happen when your family is distant or unhelpful, but it can also occur if you pressure yourself to take care of everything without asking for help.
5. Your work, self-care, or personal life is suffering.
Being a caregiver may be an important part of your identity, but it should not be your sole life experience. If you’re consistently neglecting the other areas of your life because you’re so busy and overworked as a caretaker, it’s time to seek support. Not only do you deserve a full and enriching life for your own benefit, but you’ll also be a better caregiver when you take care of your own needs.
Managing Caregiver Burden
When caregiver burden gets out of control, it can lead to serious and long-term burnout. Symptoms of anxiety and depression are common in caretakers with burnout, and your exhaustion may lead to more frequent outbursts or confrontations with others.
Fortunately, there are options for managing your caregiver burden and maintaining good mental and physical health while acting as a caretaker. You’ve probably heard time and time again about the importance of taking care of your own health, but the value of self-care cannot be understated. Try to get enough sleep every night, and incorporate healthy foods and exercise into your lifestyle. Even small changes in your habits can help your body and mind feel more energized.
The best thing you can do to alleviate caregiver burden is reach out for support. You do not have to handle everything alone, and accepting help from time to time is necessary for your and your loved one’s well-being. Even if a friend or family member cannot directly take care of your aging relative, they could help by providing meals, doing household chores, or completing other tasks to reduce your workload.
You can look for professional services in your area as well. You and your loved one might qualify for a local respite program, which is an excellent opportunity for you to take a break and recharge. Reach out to your Area Agency on Aging to learn more about programs or services you qualify for.
Emotional support is essential, too. You could join a local or online caregiver support group to get in touch with people who are going through a similar life experience. Counseling is another valuable option as it can teach you coping skills for stress and help you explore your emotions regarding your situation. You can look for a therapist who specializes in chronic illness, aging, or caregiver burden to ensure that they understand what you’re going through.
Caregiver burden can become a serious problem for family caretakers. The physical and emotional toll of caring for a loved one full-time can affect practically every area of your life, but you do have resources available to ease your burden. By taking care of yourself, you create a healthy and sustainable balance so that you can manage the long-term responsibilities of caregiving without burning out.
Blue Moon Senior Counseling offers therapy for older adults who are experiencing stress, grief, mental health disorders, and other challenges. Contact us today to learn more about counseling for seniors.