Avoiding Caregiver Burnout: Strengthening Relationships with Family Members

If you’ve ever been the caregiver for a sick or aging loved one, you know how taxing it can be on your mind and body. On the other hand, if someone you loved needed your support, you’d never hesitate to be there for them. Regardless, it’s common to experience caregiver fatigue (or caregiver burnout) during your duties. 

When so much attention is directed at the person needing care, it’s often easy to overlook the health and well-being of the caregiver. As the saying goes on an airplane, “Put your oxygen mask on before assisting others.” If the caregiver doesn’t prioritize their health and wellness, how can they be expected to help someone else?

Caregiver burnout can manifest as mental fatigue, physical aches and pains, and resentment. In this article, we’ll discuss how to identify caregiver burnout and the importance of balancing self-care and caring for a loved one. 

What is caregiver burnout?

Caregiver burnout is the feeling of exhaustion caused by caring for a loved one and neglecting one’s own personal wellness. This exhaustion manifests in physical, emotional, and mental state. Some may describe it as “burning a candle at both ends” or “burning a candle without a wick.”

It may be more common than you think. Over half (56%) of unpaid Canadian caregivers feel tired because of their caregiving responsibilities.  Here are common caregiver burnout symptoms to watch for:

• Physical or emotional exhaustion
• Pulls away from social gatherings with others
• Loss of interest in hobbies
• Changes in appetite or eating habits
• Trouble sleeping
• Cognitive struggles
• Increased irritability or quick to anger
• More susceptible to sickness than before

The feelings of burnout are also important signs to be aware of in yourself or others who are caregivers. Those with burnout may feel:

• Anxious or fearful
• Angry
• Denial or guilt
• Negativity
• Alone or isolated

Occasional caregivers don’t experience burnout as often, but it’s still possible. Your risk of caregiver stress and burnout increases when:

• Your loved one needs complex or round-the-clock care
• You (feel like you) don’t have others to provide respite care
• You have your own family or professional obligations outside your caregiving role. 

If not recognized or dealt with, long-term caregiver burnout can lead to the worsening health and well-being of yourself and those under your care.

Tips for avoiding caregiver burnout

The good news is that caregiver burnout can be avoided. If you notice any changes in your physical or mental health, take a moment to examine your own health. 

Here are our top tips for avoiding caregiver burnout:

• Have clear caregiving roles: Often, suddenly stepping into a caregiving role can create confusion, especially in separating your role as a family member from being a caregiver. Create a clear list of your responsibilities for caregiving for yourself and others in your family who also rely on you.  
• Create realistic relationship expectations: You may have entered this new role with the view that it will bring you closer to your loved one. However, caregiving can be challenging, and its effects can often cause relationship strains you’ll need to work through together. 
• Manage your responsibilities: If you’re feeling overwhelmed with your new responsibilities, take a step back. Write down all your new caregiving responsibilities and your existing responsibilities to your family and yourself. It’s possible you don’t need to take on every caregiver responsibility. You may be doing a task your loved one can and wants to do on their own. Prioritize what responsibilities you must do, with tasks you can assign to someone else.
• Practice regular self-care: Find time each day to do something that fills your bucket. Maybe you enjoy going for a daily walk or jog, doing a hobby, meditating or journaling, or resting and watching your favourite shows or movies. Find ways to include personal or self-care in your daily life, even if you have to schedule it into your calendar. 
• Create a village of support: You never have to be the sole caregiver for a loved one. Call upon other family members or close friends to help so you can get breaks to rest and recharge your batteries. 
• Hire respite care: You can hire respite services temporarily or long-term to help. You can hire an in-home care aid to help with everything from companionship, meal prep, domestic help (like cleaning and home maintenance), driving to appointments, nursing care, and more. 

Practical communication tips for caregivers

Being a good communicator can also help minimize your chance of caregiver burnout. This includes:

1. Being an active listener: Encourage family members to safely share their thoughts and feelings 
2. Setting boundaries:  This will help ensure your wellness needs are met without making you feel overwhelmed or guilty about taking a short break from caregiving. 
3. Scheduling regular check-ins: Schedule family meetings so everyone can stay connected and ask for help when needed. 

Respite care for caregivers

Every caregiver needs a break. Respite care is a great, guilt-free way to take some time for yourself, knowing your loved one has the care you need. Imagine the load off your mind.

Hero Home Care provides respite care for your loved ones. Whether you need occasional respite care or ongoing support, we have compassionate caregivers ready to help. 

Hiring a respite caregiver shouldn’t cause you more stress. Hero Home Care handles the scheduling and care coordination, so you don’t have to. Book a consultation with our nurse manager, and we’ll create a care plan for your unique needs. 

Book your free in-home care consult today, and we’ll get in touch right away to make your life easier!