During the safety demonstration at the beginning of each flight on an airplane, passengers are reminded to put their mask on first before helping others. This is important because as oxygen levels in a plane decline, your own cognitive abilities may degrade if you don’t put on your mask first, preventing you from helping others. By staying alert, you can help nearby passengers.
Being a caregiver has the same impact. Taking care of yourself to stay in the best mental, financial, and physical abilities allows you to help those you are caring for better.
It is important to remind ourselves that we should put our own symbolic mask on first before taking care of another individual.
Identifying caregiver burnout
A caregiver is a special individual who is willing and able to handle the needs of another person who can no longer care for themselves. This role can come with wonderful rewards, as the caregiver helps a person through a difficult time in life, but it can also be a significant burden to not only manage your own life, family and responsibilities but now also take on those same tasks for another person.
Caring for an elderly parent, a sick child, a dying spouse or any other loved one or friend who is no longer able to care for themself because of age, illness or disability can have significant implications on the caregiver. It can lead to neglect of your own health, delays in preventive checkups or avoidance of treatments for chronic medical conditions. It may also lead to decline in physical, emotional and mental health that can turn into an inability to complete your personal responsibilities or impact the way you feel.
This scenario is called caregiver burnout.
There are other scenarios that can lead to caregiver burnout:
- Role confusion: identifying the role of caregiver versus that of a loved one.
- Unexpected expectations: taking on a role in hopes of positive effects only to have the scenario become stressful and overwhelming.
- Lack of control: wanting to do more but not having the necessary resources.
- Too many responsibilities: the unrealistic expectation of taking on the many responsibilities of caregiving.
- Not recognizing caregiver burnout: care can decline if a caregiver does not ask for assistance or when their own health and wellbeing is declining because of their role as caregiver.
According to the Cleveland Clinic, studies show that more than 60% of caregivers experience symptoms of burnout.
“Being a caregiver can be one of the most rewarding yet overwhelming responsibilities we take on as humans,” said Nancy Bell, a social worker at UCHealth Estes Valley Medical Center. “To handle the stress of the role, it is important that caregivers take care of themselves first so that they are well rested, have good physical stamina and are emotionally prepared to handle the burden of caregiving.”
Preventing burnout
It is important to recognize the signs of burnout, which can be similar to the signs and symptoms of stress and depression.
- Emotional and physical exhaustion.
- Withdrawal from friends and family.
- A decline in the enjoyment of activities previously enjoyed.
- Feeling hopeless and helpless.
- Changes in weight and/or appetite.
- Poor sleep patterns.
- Inability to concentrate.
- Becoming sick more often.
- Increase in irritability, frustration and anger toward others.
- Feelings of anxiety, anger, denial of the person’s condition, guilt, negativity and/or seclusion.
- Resentment toward the person in your care.
There are many ways to prevent caregiver burnout or reduce its impacts if it develops.
- Find someone you trust. Because of the stress and emotional weight that naturally comes with being a caregiver, it is important to have people to lean on to talk about your feelings and frustrations. This could be a friend, family member, mental health professional or healthcare provider.
- Make time for self-care. Never feel like you cannot take time to take care of yourself while taking care of another. Set time aside to continue to enjoy the things that make you happy. Don’t skip personal appointments. Eat well, sleep plenty, regularly exercise and consider meditation or yoga. It is a necessity to set time aside each week for yourself so that you can take care of others.
- Accept your feelings. A variety of feelings are normal while being a caregiver – from feelings of joy and gratitude to negativity, frustration and anger. If the negative feelings become overwhelming, reach out for help.
- Rely on local resources. There are numerous resources of all kinds available in northern Colorado and Estes Valley. This may include in-home care, food preparation and delivery, support groups and financial resources.
And above all else, make sure to ask for and accept help. Your own support system may not recognize the struggles you are experiencing.
Resources for caregiver burnout
For all of the above reasons, a variety of resources are available throughout Estes Valley and northern Colorado to help friends and families effectively manage the world of caregiving.
“First, it is important to recognize in ourselves when we should ask for help, and not be afraid to ask for that help,” Bell said. “Rely on the resources that are available, including online resources and books.”
Bell recommends a list of caregiver support books, including:
- “A Bittersweet Season: Caring for our Aging Parents” by Jane Gross
- “Love Doesn’t Care If You Forget: Lessons of Love from Alzheimer’s and Dementia” by Brianne Grebill
- “No Saints Around Here: A Caregiver’s Days” by Susan Allen Toth
- “Surviving Alzheimer’s: Practical Tips and Soul-Saving Wisdom for Caregivers” by Paula Spencer Scott
- “The Caregiver’s Survival Handbook: How to Care for Your Aging Parent without Losing Yourself” by Alexis Abramson
UCHealth has a comprehensive free resource guide for caregivers and their families. This 23-page packet includes links to many of the resources available for older adults, dementia, dementia caregivers, long-term care and hospice.
The UCHealth Aspen Club is another resource to support healthy aging, including resources for caregivers. These resources include the six-week Powerful Tools for Caregiver and nine-week Stressbusters for Family Caregivers classes. The Aspen Club also comes to Estes Park to hold classes at the Estes Park Senior Citizens Center.
Bell also recommends local in-person caregiver support groups, including the Estes Park Caregiver Support Group at Good Samaritan Village for caregivers helping loved ones through dementia and Alzheimer’s disease. They meet at 9:30 a.m. on the second and fourth Tuesday of each month. Call 1-800-272-3900 to register.
Another new resource in Estes Park for caregivers of people with Alzheimer’s is the Dementia Day Center. Now open in the lower level of St. Bartholomew’s Episcopal Church at 880 MacGregor Ave., the center is a place for participants to receive time with trained caregivers while providing respite for their caregivers.
“Support groups create a safe, confidential, supportive environment or community and a chance for participants to develop informal mutual support and social relationships,” Bell said.
As a caregiver, the better you care for yourself, the better you can care for your loved one.
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