6 Signs of Caregiver Burnout

by Anne-Marie Botek

Chances are, if you’ve been a caregiver for more than a few weeks, you’ve experienced a certain degree of caregiver burnout—an overwhelming feeling of being unable to cope with the responsibilities of providing care.

The demands involved in caring for an elderly loved one can add up quickly, leaving you exhausted and stressed out. Over time, the cumulative effect of caregiver stress can wreak havoc on your physical and mental health.

Be on the lookout for the following six signs of caregiver burnout so you can work quickly to reduce some of the burden. If you find yourself thinking, doing or saying any of these things, take action to reduce stress, find respite care and seek help from your doctor to protect your own well-being.

6 Signs of Caregiver Burnout

1. Isolation & Withdrawal

   "I just don’t feel like talking to or seeing anyone today—even my friends and family." If you discover that you consistently don’t want to interact with people, especially close family and friends, it could be a sign that caring for your elderly loved one is becoming too draining.

2. Loss of Interest in Activities

   "I used to really enjoy reading mystery novels, but even a thrilling whodunit doesn’t seem to hold my interest anymore." If you’ve lost interest in your favorite hobbies and pastimes, it may indicate that you need a break from caregiving.

3. Feeling Overwhelmed & Hopeless

   "Sometimes taking care of Mom is too much. I feel like I want to end it all." Thoughts of hopelessness, suicide or hurting your elderly loved one are dangerous warning signs of extreme burnout and probable depression. You should immediately seek help from a mental health professional if you find yourself having violent thoughts. The National Suicide Prevention Lifeline is also available 24/7 at 1-800-273-8255 and provides free and confidential support and resources to individuals in distress.

4. Change in Eating Patterns

   "I’ve been eating weirdly lately."Abnormal eating patterns—whether it’s eating too much or not enough—can be symptoms of extreme stress. Many caregivers experience emotional eating and reach for comfort foods as a way of soothing negative feelings. Others are so wrought with stress that they lose their appetites and hardly eat at all. Digestive issues may accompany changes in appetite as well.

5. Change in Sleep Patterns

   "I’ve been sleeping weirdly lately." If you have trouble falling asleep at night, difficulty staying asleep or a hard time getting out of bed in the morning, you may be feeling the effects of caregiver burden.

6. Changes in Health

   "It’s been several weeks, and I still can’t seem to shake this cold." Stress can devastate your immune system, especially over the long term. Illnesses that last longer than they should are a sign of compromised immune function that could be due to your caregiving duties. In addition to drawing out temporary illnesses, chronic stress can also contribute to serious chronic medical conditions like heart disease, diabetes, autoimmune diseases and gastrointestinal disorders.

The keys to combatting caregiver burnout are self-awareness and self-care. Both you and your care recipient will suffer if you’ve lost the interest or ability to provide quality care. Start by developing some self-care strategies to help you de-stress and prioritizing respite care so you can take breaks from caregiving. After all, caregivers need care too.

Read: A Self-Help Approach to Coping with Caregiver Stress

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6 Signs of Caregiver Burnout

Nursing home 'overwhelmed' by positive response to pandemic pen pal program

By Janine Puhak

Will you be their pen pal?

 

There’s nothing better than getting a letter.

Increased loneliness and isolation are two heartbreaking consequences of the coronavirus pandemic, inspiring one network of care homes in North Carolina to proactively promote a pen pal program for residents.

Officials say the center has since been “overwhelmed” by an outpouring of love and support since the campaign went viral on social media, with letters arriving from around the world.

Victorian Senior Care operates 14 nursing homes and assisted living facilities across the Tar Heel State, and has restricted visitors since March 13 for the health and safety of its residents amid the COVID-19 crisis.

To help beat the blues after months of isolation, Victorian Senior Care recently sent out a call to action, asking the public to send letters to residents at Phoenix Assisted Care in Cary, Fox 5 DC reports. Exceeding expectations, the late June pitch went wildly viral on Facebook with over 327,000 shares, 37,000 likes and 16,000 comments.

In the weeks since, the care center has shared images of residents from other locations who hope to receive snail mail of their own. For the cute campaign, Victorian Senior Care is posting photos of the residents with a sign listing their name and a fun fact or information about their hobbies or interests, in search of a perfect pen pal match.

Thanking program participants in an update last Tuesday, the care home said that they have been “overwhelmed with the outpouring of love and support not just from our own state or country but from all around the world!”

“Our residents are truly the reason we do what we do and seeing the excitement and smiles on their faces make our day,” a spokesperson wrote on Facebook.

According to Victorian Senior Care’s chief operating officer Meredith Seals, about 15,000 letters and care package items have poured in since the pitch went viral.

“There are so many people whom have reached out wanting to help, we are trying to respond to everyone quickly but having trouble keeping up,” she told Yahoo Lifestyle on Wednesday. “[It] warms my heart that so many people care.”

The care center is still seeking letter-writing buddies for the #VSCPenPals project; those interested can learn more about potential partners on the Victorian Senior Care site.

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Nursing home 'overwhelmed' by positive response to pandemic pen pal program