The One Reason So Many Family Caregivers Suffer from Tremendous Stress
July 12, 2018
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For the estimated 44 million men and women who are family caregivers, stress and anxiety are part of their daily lives. Yes, stress impacts just about everyone due to financial circumstances, work deadlines, unemployment, relationship challenges, health issues, and so much more, but caregiver stress is often overlooked for just how much it can affect a person in almost every aspect of their life.
A person who takes on the role of a family caregiver usually gives up a lot of their own life.
They give up time. They dedicate more and more support and effort to the individual who needs assistance, especially if the requirement extends for more than just a few weeks or a couple of months. They begin sacrificing time with friends, exercising, eating healthy because now they are grabbing fast food more frequently as time is running out far quicker every day, and so on.
Why does this caregiver stress become so tremendous?
For the most part, those men and women who take on this incredibly important role are trying to do everything themselves. They might not have a significant support system surrounding them. They may not have other family members who are in the area or, if they are, they don’t tend to step up. Those other family members see somebody already doing that caregiver work and never even think they might need help.
Some of these family caregivers do this out of a sense of responsibility and, even when they begin feeling the impact of extreme stress and anxiety pressing down on them, they just assume this is their responsibility. They might get this sense that if they even discuss other options, including home care support services, it will be viewed as though they don’t really care about this individual. “Why would you push me off onto somebody else? Don’t you care about me?” This is a question they may fear hearing.
When a person attempts to do everything by themselves, the hours of the day move faster and faster. Before long it becomes evidently clear there simply aren’t enough hours in the day, and that leads to more and more stress. Stress equals more trouble sleeping. Less sleep equals poor focus. Poor focus equals getting less done the next day and the cycle repeats itself until it feels as though the world is crashing down around them.
One simple change can make all the difference.
That simple change is to talk about
hiring a home care provider. A home care provider is one of the best assets for men and women who need help at home. Agencies provide incredible flexibility so that family caregiver can still step up and help, but they won’t have to do it alone.
If you or an aging loved one are considering caregivers in Mount Olympus, UT, contact the caring staff at Interim Healthcare. Call today 801-401-3515.
Author: Michael and Marlena Hawkins, Owners, Interim HealthCare, Salt Lake City, UT
Interim HealthCare of Salt Lake City has been in business since February 2014, providing in-home personal care and support services that help our elderly and/or disabled neighbors live enriched, safe and independent lives. Our goal is to provide customized care and support services that make it possible for our clients to remain in the comfort of their own homes rather than relocate to an assisted living facility. Interim HealthCare is family owned by Michael and Marlana Hawkins, and is a Veteran Owned Small Business.
