Have You Overstretched Yourself in Your Sandwich Caregiver Role?

A large percentage of the adult population of the United States is a part of what is called the sandwich generation. This is the people who are sandwiched between caring for their adult parent while still raising their children. This role can be extremely meaningful and fulfilling, giving you the opportunity to spend quality time with both generations of your family and to show your love, care, respect, and desire for both to experience the highest quality of life. It can also be extremely stressful. Trying to fulfill all of the needs for an elderly adult, children, and yourself can leave you overstretched and feeling as though you never get finished with what you need to do. This puts you at risk of a condition known as caregiver burnout. This is a potentially dangerous situation that can negatively impact your mental, emotional, and physical health and well-being, and diminish your ability to be as effective a caregiver as you need to be for all of those who rely on you. Being able to identify the symptoms of caregiver burnout enables you to get the care and support that you need to overcome it and take the steps to take care of yourself moving forward.

Some signs that you may have overstretched yourself in your caregiver role and could be suffering from caregiver burnout include:

• Loss of interest in the activities that you used to enjoy 
• Feelings of withdrawal from friends and family 
• Physical and mental exhaustion
• Irritability and short temper 
• Changes in appetite to either eating too much or too little
• Weight loss or weight gain 
• Inability to sleep or sleeping too much 
• Feeling sad, depressed, and helpless
• Increased incidence of infection and illness 
• Taking longer to recover from illnesses and infections
• Experiencing feelings of wanting to hurt yourself 
• No longer caring about the well-being of those you care for, or the effectiveness with which you fulfill their care needs
• No longer feeling motivated to fulfill your responsibilities 
• Increased use of alcohol, sleep medications, or other substances

If you think that you may be suffering from caregiver burnout, it is extremely important to take a step back from your care routine and focus on taking care of yourself. This can include  starting home care for your senior and taking advantage of help from others and caring for your children so that you are able to focus your time, energy, and effort in the most effective ways possible while still taking care of yourself. You should also consider participating in a support group designed for caregivers that will give you a place to express yourself and to receive advice and guidance from those who understand what you are going through. 

Being a family caregiver for an aging adult can be extremely challenging. This is especially true if you are a member of the sandwich generation, caring for both your aging parent and your children, you live at a distance from your parent that keeps you from being able to be with them as frequently as you would like to be, or you struggle with your own challenges and limitations that keep you from being able to fulfill their care needs in the way that you believe they should be fulfilled. Whether you are dealing with care challenges, are experiencing a high level of caregiver stress, or simply feel that your parent would benefit from a wider care circle, home care can be a fantastic choice. A home care services provider can step in to fill care gaps, offer companionship and support, reduce your stress, and ensure that your parent receives the care and support that they need at all times. This will support a better quality of life and ongoing health and well-being for both of you.

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