From the article: I'm Overwhelmed, and I May Be Experiencing Caregiver Burnout. Help!
One reader who was dealing with caregiver burnout wrote saying that she was dealing with a mother with Alzheimers, raising two grandchildren, and barely had time for her husband, and had no time for herself. She was drinking more than usual and taking more medication than necessary. I advised her to talk to her doctor, but gave her some advice to use in conjunction. (You can read it here.) These situations are becoming increasingly common, and can be quite stressful! What advice do you have for managing caregiver burnout? Share Your Advice
25 Years Experience With Burnout!
- Fought cancer with my Dad for 12 years. Fought Alzheimer's and Parkinsons with my Mom for 9 1/2 years. Now fighting Alzheimer's with my mother-in-law for 3 1/2 years. I joined caregiver support groups (free) and took every geriatric course I could find to help me give my loved ones the best of care. I found a great day-care facility for my mother-in-law that has improved the quality of her life, while giving me "ME TIME"! (There are many groups and foundations that can help you with costs as well.) Think of "flying on an airplane", you put the oxygen mask on yourself, before helping others with theirs. YOU MUST COME FIRST!!!
- —bopraj
More Caregiver Burnout Advice
- Some more articles that can be of help is the VNSNY blog Avoid Caregiver Burnout and the VNSNY main site which has an article on Avoiding Caregiver Burnout . Good luck!
- —Guest stav
Caregiver Burnout Advice
- Try calling your local Agency on Aging and/or your local hospital. They have counselors who can help patients get Medicare or Medicaid. If they can't help you, ask them who can. There may be services that your mom is entitled to for free. Keep asking until you find them. Ask everyone you know. This will allow you some time to yourself & with your husband.
- —Guest Elizabeth
Consider Adult Day Care
- Caregiver burnout is a serious issue and all too common. Please consider giving yourself a break and take your loved one to an adult day care center in your town. Adult day care (http://www.activeday.com) is a cost effective healthcare option (vs. a nursing home or assisted living care) that will provide your loved one health care supervision. Patients also enjoy socialization, community outings, therapeutic programming, hot, healthy meals, and transportation is available if needed.
- —Guest CaregiversUSA
Play Music, Seek Volunteers
- Play music for your mother, the kind she is familiar with. And do check out local NGOs for volunteers to help you with tasks around the house to free up some of your time.
- —Guest Rina Kamath
Caregiver Burnout
- I am the primary caregiver of my 17 year old severely autistic son. He is still in diapers and hardly able to communicate. Here are some of the things my new husband and I do to relieve our stress: we take every opportunity we can to fit into the day a special meal, some ice cream, a moment together on the porch swing. We try to get enough sleep, as it's essential. I usually take a long, somewhat strenuous walk early in the morning, as it clears my head and prepares me for the day's craziness. I too, struggle with less than healthy habits that feel stress-relieving - I try to remember that these activities don't really help in the long run. I also work hard at utilizing local agencies that can help - this is hard for me, but they are a great resource sometimes. Steal time for oneself whenever you can, that's what can sustain you.
- —Guest RC
