Manage Caregiver Stress
Family Caregivers Need Support to Prevent Burnout & Reduce Stress
Jul 29, 2008
Jobs with high demand and low control are the most stressful of all. Caring for a chronically ill family member falls into this category.
Caregivers Need Support to Manage High Demand
If the caregiver burden is such that it threatens the safety of the caregiver, help needs to be sought right away. Examples are:
- lifting the patient, when the caregiver risks or exacerbates self-injury by doing so;
- dealing with an abusive or violent patient;
- having sleep continually interrupted long-term, so as to constantly be in a state of sleep deprivation;
- not having the ability for the caregiver to receive proper medical care for him or herself due to not having anyone who can stay with the patient.
In this case the help of relatives, in-home care assisted living or a nursing home may need to be utilized.
High Caregiver Burden can Create Long-Term Stress
Demand that is too high may also contribute to emotional and health problems in the caregiver, like depression. There may not be enough hours in the day for any human to do everything that needs to be done. This is normal in a crisis, but cannot be carried on for the long term without consequences, such as caregiver burnout. Too high demand is indicated when:
- the caregiver never has an opportunity to take a break;
- the caregiver never has an opportunity to do anything pleasurable;
- the caregiver never has an opportunity to be away from the care recipient.
Sometimes it is difficult for the caregiver to break the ice and take the first step in enlisting support. Feelings such as guilt and fear of the unknown can get in the way. Understanding the resources that exist for caregivers can be a first step in getting comfortable with enlisting help. Caregivers can research help even if they are not ready to receive it. They can start by looking online or contacting their local Health and Human Services Department, senior center, or their state and local Office of the Aging.
Understanding the Role of Control in Caregiving
When living with chronic illness, it is important to accept that there are certain things out of one’s control, such as the illness itself. Other things though, that seem out of control, may not be. It is important to identify areas where more control can be exercised, because this can lessen stress. For example,
- emotions sometimes seem out of control when they are suppressed. Caregivers can seek support groups and counseling, which are offered free to caregivers in many communities, to help a person feel more in control of his or her self and life.
- Adult children caring for parents at a distance often feel out of control because their parents are making all the decisions and may be resisting input. Family therapists who specialize in Bowenian Family Systems therapy can be particularly helpful in teaching adult children better ways of communicating and developing a collaborative relationship with parents. Adult children can also enlist the help of their parents' neighbors or Geriatric Care Managers to assist them.
- The caregiver cannot control whether or not her sleep will be interrupted. However, the caregiver can listen to her own body and notice when lack of sleep is a problem. She can then enlist other family members or hire a home health aid to spend the night in the room with the patient once or twice per week, or to take care of the patient during the day so she can nap; or utilize respite services or adult day care.
There is Hope and Support for Caregivers
Caregiving, by its nature is stressful because of high demand and low control. In addition, it is more than just a job, and all kinds of complicated emotions are involved, which also cause stress.
It is important for caregivers to understand and master simple stress management techniques which can help caregivers keep themselves calm and healthy from moment to moment, day to day, week to week. But for the long term, understanding and addressing issues of demand and control are what is needed to reduce stress.
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