Being the primary caregiver for a senior loved one is an enormous responsibility. If you’re facing this important task alone, you’re probably doing everything in your power to keep your loved one happy and healthy. Because you’re so busy taking care of someone else, you might be sacrificing your own needs. Taking on too much as a caregiver is common. While you may not want to leave your loved one’s side, it’s important to remember you’ll only be able to provide the highest level of quality care if your own health is intact. To ensure your stress doesn’t lead to burnout, assess your risk by considering the following questions.
Are You Experiencing Frequent Illnesses?
Stress is a dangerous thing, and being under too much stress can cause a person to develop frequent illnesses. Are you getting more colds than you used to get? Stressed people also tend to recover from a sickness slower than others do. If you’re constantly ill, you may be at risk for caregiver burnout.
If you’re the primary family caregiver for an elderly loved one and need additional assistance providing high-quality home care, Danville Assisting Hands Home Care can help. We are a leading home care agency committed to changing the way seniors age.
Do You Have Problems Sleeping?
Sleeping problems are another red flag for caregiver burnout. Perhaps you used to sleep through the night without waking up. Now, you may wake up in a worried state several times during the night. Or, you might lie awake in your bed for a couple of hours before going to sleep. If your sleep has been disturbed lately, you might need a break from caregiving.
Family caregivers sometimes need a break from their caregiving responsibilities. When they need respite care, Danville families can rely on professional caregivers to help their senior loved ones remain safe at home.
Do You Often Skip Meals?
Are you starting to skip meals more often? Do you no longer enjoy the taste of your favorite dishes anymore” Or, due to your caregiving duties, you might not feel like you have enough time to eat. If you’ve noticed a drastic change in your eating habits lately, you could be experiencing caregiver burnout.
Do You Need Help?
If you’ve answered in the affirmative to any of the aforementioned questions, you may need to seek help for caregiver burnout. One great option to relieve some of the stress of caregiving is in-home care. Whether you get help from a respite caregiver for a few hours or take a weekend off, time away from your caregiving responsibilities can allow you to be rested, healthy and alert for your loved one.
When researching agencies that provide at-home care, families are usually looking for flexible care plans, compassionate and highly trained caregivers, and 24/7 availability. Whether you need respite care to take a break from your caregiving duties or your senior loved one needs around-the-clock assistance at home, you can rely on Assisting Hands Home Care. Call us today to schedule a complimentary consultation.
