What is Caregiver Burnout, And How Can You Prevent It?

In America, every one in five people is a caregiver for their family. The person who needs care could be a child or someone with a disability. Elderly people also need special attention, the more they age. Loved ones who are recovering from illnesses or injuries also need to be taken care of.

With the generation of baby boomers aging more with each passing day, there are more people who need special care, than ever before. This is what has led to a growth in the demand for professional caregivers. Family members may not have enough time, or may not know how to properly care for their loved ones.

Benefits Of Working As A Caregiver 

Working as a professional caregiver can be a rewarding experience. Here are some of the benefits that you can enjoy:

• The family of the patient will know that they are in good hands.
• You can develop a closer relationship with the patient and their family.
• You can develop your confidence when it comes to handling situations that are hard.
• You’ll have a flexible work schedule, and no two days at work will ever be the same.
• You can choose your work schedule.
• You can decide if you want to take on more work or not.

While there are several benefits to working as a caregiver, it could also take a toll on your mental, emotional and physical health. A lot of caregivers report that they feel alone when taking care of the patient. Professional caregivers don’t have the same support structure that you’ll get in hospital settings or nursing homes. Usually, you’ll be working alone.

Professional caregivers also say that their health is usually between fair to poor. When the physical and mental toll of caregiving becomes more than what you can handle, you can experience caregiver burnout.

The Signs Of Caregiver Burnout

When you find yourself experiencing emotional, mental, and physical fatigue as a result of the demands of your work, it’s called caregiver burnout. You could feel as if the joy you felt towards your work is now gone. You could be someone who genuinely enjoys taking care of other people.

But, when overstressed, you could feel that the joy you used to experience is now gone. You’ll find that working as a professional caregiver isn’t all fun and games. This is because sometimes you’ll find that the health of the client deteriorates, even if you try your best for them. This is mostly seen in elderly patients as well as people with chronic illnesses.

If you’ve been working multiple shifts every day, rushing from one location to the next, then this could also lead you towards feeling stressed. When you’re experiencing caregiver burnout, it could be difficult for you to take care of the patient. Work that you could have done easily before can seem more challenging now.

At the same time, you could also be struggling with balancing your personal and professional life. When you experience burnout, this affects your health as well as your well-being in many ways.

But what are the signs that indicate you could be suffering from caregiver burnout?

1. Anger 

Even if you don’t show it, you could feel as if you’re getting angry faster now. You could end up having outbursts at home, and at work, and you could find yourself irritated at small things. Your anger could also be preventing you from giving your best at work.

2. Anxiety 

You could be worried about the future. Maybe you’re wondering if you’re doing your best for the patient. You could feel anxious about not just work, but your personal life as well.

3. Changes In Appetite 

For some people, burnout makes them feel too tired to eat. As a result, they end up skipping meals. Often, this is on purpose because they may simply not feel hungry. This can lead to a drastic drop in weight, as well as other health issues.

But not everyone is like that. Some other people could start eating too much when they’re stressed. They could experience weight gain as a result.

4. Denial

When caring for patients who have a progressive illness, such as Alzheimer’s, you could have a hard time accepting that they will die.

5. Hopelessness 

You could start to feel hopeless about various aspects of your life. Feelings of depression could creep in, and you could find yourself feeling sad a lot of the time.

6. Insomnia 

You may not be able to fall asleep at night. You could also have a hard time staying asleep. Should you not get restful sleep at night, you could wake up feeling tired the next day.

7. Isolation 

Working through the day by yourself can feel isolating. But when you’re experiencing caregiver burnout, this isolation can feel more intense.

8. Lack of Interest 

Things that used to interest you may not seem appealing anymore. You could avoid your hobbies, or end up feeling disinterested in your life.

9. Physical Exhaustion 

You could be feeling tired in the mornings after waking up, not wanting to go to work. Throughout the day, the feelings of tiredness won’t go away.

10. Substance Misuse 

In some cases, people turn to alcohol or drugs, as a way to cope with their burnout.

Caregiver burnout can be managed, and even prevented. So if you’re feeling burnt out, don’t worry, there’s a lot you can do to deal with the situation.

You should also consider insurance for caregivers. This is as your career leaves you exposed to certain risks. You could, for example, get sued by a dissatisfied patient. Insurance for caregivers can help you protect your finances, as well as your career. If you want to learn more about insurance for caregivers, then click here.

Preventing And Managing Caregiver Burnout 

You could be feeling exhausted or burnt out because of work. Perhaps you need help at the moment, or you could also be considering how to prevent burnout in the future. To prevent caregiver burnout, you’ll need to eat well, exercise, and get enough sleep. But these are just the basics.

Here are some more things you can do to prevent and manage caregiver burnout:

• Have a friend or relative take care of your responsibilities at home. Let them know that you’re going through a difficult time, but with their support, you could get through it.
• Don’t neglect your health. Do your regular checkups, and screenings, and take your vaccines. If you have a supervisor, you could let them know you are feeling burnt out and could need help.
• Talk to other caregivers about feeling burnt out. If someone has gone through what you’re going through, or if they are burnt out as well, you could connect with each other.
• Take time out to do your hobbies, even if you don’t feel like doing them. Even half an hour devoted to activities you normally find enjoyable can help you.
• Socialize with people in your free time. Don’t socially isolate yourself, but actively engage with people so you don’t feel alone.
• There are limitations to what caregivers can do for their patients. Even when you put in your best effort, sometimes the patient’s condition can continue to worsen. Accept that there are limitations when it comes to what you can do as a caregiver.

Conclusion

Professional caregivers shouldn’t feel worried or alarmed if they experience caregiver burnout. This is because caregivers do experience burnout from time to time. You could become so engrossed in your work that you forget to take the time out to care for yourself.

Before you know it, your health could be getting worse. Not paying attention to your needs could lead you towards feeling burnt out. To prevent and manage caregiver burnout, prioritizing your needs is important.