It’s understandable to be occasionally stressed or fatigued by caregiver-related duties. However, what’s not normal is being so physically and emotionally overwhelmed that your ability to function well is affected. If you have concerns about reaching this point, it can help to know what risk factors to look out for. Here are some of the biggest ones along with some tips for what you can do to mitigate each risk.

Living with Your Senior Loved One

Little stresses and frustrations can quickly add up if your loved one lives with you. While you’re certainly not expected to ask your loved one to move out, what you can do is set reasonable boundaries when appropriate. It can be just as helpful to let other household members know you’d appreciate some assistance with more time-consuming tasks like running errands.

Caring for senior loved ones can be challenging for families who don’t have expertise or professional training in home care, but this challenge doesn’t have to be faced alone. Family caregivers can turn to Assisting Hands Home Care for the help they need. We provide high-quality in-home and respite care as well as comprehensive Alzheimer’s, dementia, stroke, and Parkinson’s care.

Financial Stress

You may become financially stressed and burned out if you’re constantly helping your loved one handle extra expenses. One option for mitigating this risk is to see if your loved one is eligible for senior programs that provide discounted services. Turning to in-home care may be helpful as well if your main concern is keeping up with your work-related obligations so your income remains stable.

Social Isolation

Even though you regularly interact with your loved one, you may still feel isolated if you let outside interests fall by the wayside. Caregiver burnout can also be experienced if you feel as if you have no life beyond caregiving. Possible solutions include:

Taking advantage of in-home or respite care to treat yourself to breaks to recharge personally and tend to your own needs
Finding creative ways to maintain your social circle (e.g., combining remote connections with in-person interactions)
Having trusted friends and family members you can confide in, talk to, and interact with

Whether you need respite from your caregiving duties or your aging loved one needs more extensive in-home care, Arlington, VA, Assisting Hands Home Care can meet your family’s care needs. Our dedicated caregivers are available around the clock to provide transportation to doctor’s appointments, ensure seniors take their prescribed medications, and help with a variety of tasks in and outside the home.

Gender

According to the Family Caregiver Alliance, women are more susceptible to depression than men, which is why being female is considered a risk factor for caregiver burnout. It’s a risk factor that may be minimized by having a strong emotional support system involving friends and other family members.

Existing Mental Health Issues

You’ll be in a better position to handle the regular stresses of caregiving if any existing mental health issues you have are addressed. You may also be more susceptible to caregiver burnout if you have a family history of depression or anxiety disorders. With situations like this, it’s sometimes best to arrange for professional assistance to ease the caregiving burden or split caregiver duties with other family members.

Lack of Sufficient Stress Management Skills/Techniques

Being able to use effective stress management skills and techniques can reduce your risk of burnout. If you haven’t figured out strategies that work for you yet, you may find yourself increasingly stressed, frustrated, or depressed. Some caregivers find success with techniques that involve:

Taking brief daily walks
Engaging in relaxing forms of exercise that might include yoga or water-based activities
Keeping a journal
Exploring meditation, deep breathing, and other relaxation techniques that can be done just about anywhere

Families who need help caring for senior loved ones can turn to Assisting Hands Home Care, a leading provider of Arlington elderly home care. Services available in our customizable care plans include meal prep, mental and social stimulation, assistance with personal hygiene tasks, and much more. If your loved one needs assistance with the challenges of aging, reach out to one of our knowledgeable, compassionate Care Managers today at (703) 988-1800.