How to Deal With Stress From Family Caregiving

When a parent or spouse falls ill, the first instinct of many family members is to take on the responsibility of caring for them. After all, you love them and want what’s best for them. However, it’s important to acknowledge that caregiving can place significant emotional, physical, and financial stresses on the caregiver.

Griswold Home Care of Hilton Head, your trusted provider of elderly live-in home care services, offers a closer look at some of the causes of caregiver stress and how to manage them.

The Rigors of Caregiving

According to a study released by the AARP, 78% of family caregivers incur significant out-of-pocket costs related to caregiving, which often leads to cutbacks on leisure spending and saving for retirement. Family caregivers also routinely deal with lower levels of self-esteem and feelings of uncertainty, both of which contribute to high-stress levels that can negatively impact health.

Tips on Finding Balance

It’s important for anyone caring for a loved one, and members of their support system, to learn to recognize the signs of caregiver stress. These include irritability, lack of concentration, denial, anxiety, anger, depression, and exhaustion. Caregiving is only sustainable with proper stress management. It helps to know that you are not alone in your caregiving efforts and that it’s OK to ask for help. Many families, for instance, hire a respite or live-in home health aide to help share the day-to-day burden of caregiving.

It also helps to learn to prioritize and set realistic goals. This will help keep you from feeling overwhelmed. Your or your loved one’s primary care provider can be a valuable resource when it comes to finding caregiving options in your community. It’s also a good idea to get social support from friends and family who can help you feel appreciated and make sure you’re getting the physical, mental, and emotional breaks you need.