Caregivers are defined as those providing personal and medical care to ailing individuals. These individuals are usually older adults, such as parents who may have dementia or mobility issues that make taking care of themselves difficult. If you are the elder care provider, a time may come when you experience burnout symptoms. Here’s what you should know about burnout and what you can do about it.

What Is Caregiver Burnout?

Caregiver burnout refers to emotional, physical, and mental exhaustion from taking care of a family member, partner, or friend. Your duties may include preparing meals, doing housekeeping work, paying bills, performing bathing and dressing tasks, providing medication reminders, running errands, and serving as the person’s companion. If you are the sole caregiver, you can become overly stessed because you have little time for yourself and feel guilty about wanting your normal life back.

Other caregiver burnout symptoms include feeling overwhelmed by your duties and everything else you have going on, such as your career and children. This lack of control and resentment can appear in numerous ways, including withdrawing from your social circle, feeling hopeless or sad on a regular basis, experiencing exhaustion, anxiety, and irritability, and neglecting your own health. This can result in physical changes, such as weight gain or loss, insomnia and sleep pattern changes, and decreased immunity.

How Can You Prevent It?

The best way to prevent elder care burnout is to remember your own needs and wants. There is nothing wrong with self-care, as it provides the mental and emotional break you need to deal with the demands on your life—instead of resenting them. Self-care includes enjoying a balanced diet, exercising, making time for friendships and relationships, reading, and doing anything else that’s healthy and makes you feel better.

You can also prevent elder care burnout by getting support from friends and family and enlisting help. Professional caregiver services lift the burden of elder care, so you aren’t as stressed from doing it all on your own. It also helps to accept what’s going on—instead of fighting it or feeling sorry for yourself. Look for the positives, remember that what you’re doing is important, and allow yourself to have your own life. You’ll be a much better caregiver for it. 

Abbington Assisted Living is proud to provide elder care throughout Columbus, Pickerington, Powell, Chillicothe, and Coshocton, OH. Abbington senior living communities are one-story buildings that are designed with comfort and security in mind, offering comprehensive nursing care services in a compassionate, comfortable, and cost-effective manner. Please visit our website or call us directly at (614) 451-4575 in Columbus, (614) 577-0822 in Pickerington, (614) 789-9868 in Powell, (740) 773-4630 in Chillicothe, or (740) 623-4600 in Coshocton.