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The Best Way to Avoid Caregiver Burnout is Elderly Care Help

May 10, 2018
Lenora Alabi
Anyone who is caring for an elderly relative is familiar with frustration and fatigue. However, when this chronic stress reaches dangerous levels, it is known as caregiver burnout. There are many reasons why family caregivers should do everything they can to avoid caregiver burnout before it occurs. From focusing on self-care to hiring elderly care assistance, caregivers need to take care of themselves so they can continue to take care of their loved one.

Family Caregivers Lose Life Balance 

Usually, caregiving duties start out small as the elderly person just needs a little help here and there. As their physical limitations increase, they often need more and more help for things like bathing, dressing and going to the store. In many cases, the illness or injury comes on all at once, such as a stroke or broken hip. A once-independent senior then suddenly needs all kinds of help, from morning until night. Still other elderly adults are physically capable but begin to have cognitive issues such as dementia or Alzheimer’s disease. 

All these situations and more, mean that these elderly people really need their family caregiver to take care of them. As the demands on their time grow, family caregivers devote less time to their own needs, from cutting out exercise and hobbies to spending almost all their time with their elderly relative. When family caregivers are stressed and exhausted with no breaks, this can affect their health and wellness. 

How Elderly Care Services Help Family Caregivers

The biggest reason for caregiver burnout is that the family member decides they need to do most or all the work themselves. Often, it’s because they feel guilty about turning tasks over to someone else. Sometimes the elderly person simply refuses care from anyone besides the family member. Still other reasons include feeling embarrassment about not being able to handle everything and dynamics with other family members about the direction and quality of care.

Elderly care agencies offer professional home care workers to assist an elderly person in their home. They know how to do many different tasks and work with elderly adults in areas like bathing, grooming, dressing, hygiene and mobility. Home care assistants can do light housekeeping, laundry, meal planning and preparation and even grocery shopping. Many home care aides are also qualified to drive elderly adults around to the store or to doctor’s appointments. 

Having a caring professional in place to tend to an elderly person’s needs gives the family caregiver some much-needed breaks. When the home care assistant is scheduled regularly, the family member can make plans, take time for themselves and engage in some healing and restorative activities. The best way to avoid caregiver burnout is elderly care help, but family members should arrange it before burnout levels are reached.

Source:

https://www.webmd.com/women/caregiver-recognizing-burnout#1

IF YOU OR AN AGING LOVED ONE ARE CONSIDERING HIRING IN-HOME ELDERLY CARE IN NEW EAST SIDE, IL, PLEASE CONTACT THE CARING STAFF AT BRIGHTSTAR CARE CHICAGO. CALL TODAY: 312.382.8888.