Caregiving

Coping with Caregiver Burnout

The effects of family caregiving can place a tremendous emotional, physical, and financial toll on all involved. Although the caregiver is preoccupied and overly concerned with the changes taking place with their ailing relative, there are changes that affect the caregiver that often are overlooked.

Emotional changes
Role reversal: The parent being cared for becomes the child, and the child who is the caregiver becomes the parent.

Role overload: Typically, the caregiver does two to three times the normal workload of a non-caregiver.

Changes in the family system: The entire family is affected by the caregiver's new role. For example, young children and the caregiver's spouse may feel neglected and by the caregiver. In turn, this causes friction and conflict for the family.

Normal routine of living is interrupted on a temporary to permanent basis: The recipient of care may need to live with the caregiver, which can restrict the caregiver's social life and infringe on privacy.

Negative or positive feeling retrogressed: There may be negative or positive feelings from the recipient of care and the caregiver. For example, if it was a difficult relationship before you become a caregiver, very often, issues or family dynamics often resurface while caregiving. For instance, if you are caring for your father who is fiercely independent, he may feel now that he is a charity case, and having to ask for assistance makes him resistant and resentful of becoming dependent.

Physical changes
Changes in home environment: Your aging loved one may have to live with you. You may need to install medical equipment or make your home environment accessible for your family member to get around.

More frequent travel: You may need to travel long distances to care for a loved one or even relocate to another city. In my private practice I have worked with caregivers who commute daily from Boston to New York in order to sustain employment and meet their family members' needs.

Financial changes
Lost wages, benefits and insurance: Elder care is costly. Many caregivers have to miss hours of work or pass up promotions to care for a family member.

Symptoms of Caregiver Burnout

Over time, these emotional, physical, and financial changes begin to affect the caregiver. Caregivers feel overwhelmed, exhausted, frustrated, resentful, and guilty. Do not ignore the following signs of burnout if you are a caregiver:

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