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How Can You Avoid Caregiver Burnout?

September 2, 2022 0 Comment Category: Betenu Health

If you are handling caregiver responsibilities for a senior loved one, you will know how taxing it can be. Whether you are offering help with daily household tasks or coordinating the care of your senior loved one virtually, you are a caregiver. As per the reports of The Family Caregiver Alliance, 44 million US citizens are offering some type of unpaid caregiving and most of these caregivers are underprepared and ill-equipped to take on the responsibility, which can result in caregiver burnout.

Avoiding Caregiver Burnout

If you are a caregiver for your senior loved one, you can decrease the chances of experiencing caregiver burnout by following the tips shared by our senior living experts.

Request Help

It might be difficult for you to ask for help from friends and family members, senior service agencies, and neighbors. But understand that you simply cannot do it all on your own. Before requesting help and support, you can make a list of specific caregiving tasks that you perform. You can then ask others to help you with the tasks.

Prioritize Rest

You will not be able to care for your loved one when you are trying hard to balance your professional and personal obligations. Therefore, make rest a part of your daily routine. Mark in your daily schedule to ensure that you take the necessary break you need. You can use the time to go for a walk, take a nap or get a massage.

Discuss With Your Employer

If you find that caregiver stress is eating away from your professional life, you can talk with your employer about it. Your employer might refer you to available resources via the Employee Assistance Program, or you can take leave via the Family Medical Leave Act.

Do Not Skip Your Medical Appointments

It is common for caregivers to skip physician checkups and procedures. If you are a caregiver, do not forget to keep up with your health checkups. Make your health a priority by scheduling your annual dental and medical appointments and ensuring that you go to them.

Learn About Local Resources

Caregivers going through caregiver burnout may become frustrated with their senior loved ones. Therefore, ensure that you are mentally healthy by making use of available local resources. Try to locate a caregiver support group in your area or schedule respite care services. You can get in touch with the senior services department of your township to know more about local resources.