Everybody gets exhausted now and then, but family caregivers are more likely to experience fatigue because of the many obligations, responsibilities, and duties on their to-do lists. Being overly exhausted isn’t good physically or mentally for anyone, and it can make it difficult to provide sufficient care for an older loved one. Here are five of the top reasons caregiving can be exhausting along with some tips to help.
1. Time Demands
Initially, it may be fairly easy to fit caregiving duties into your daily routine. However, the demands on your time can gradually increase as you find yourself having to rearrange your schedule to provide regular rides to doctor appointments or run errands for your loved one. You may also get calls for assistance at various hours of the day, which could affect your sleep patterns and make you even more exhausted. Possible solutions include:
- Using senior transportation services for your loved one
- Asking for help from other family members
- Considering in-home care assistance
If you’re the primary family caregiver for an elderly loved one and need additional assistance providing high-quality home care service, Home Care Assistance can help. We are a leading home care agency committed to changing the way seniors age.
2. Financial Concerns
Caregivers sometimes need to adjust their work hours to provide sufficient care for their loved ones, which contributes to financial stress. You may also become exhausted if you have to handle your loved one’s finances in addition to your own. One option is to see if your loved one qualifies for Medicaid to help with expenses that aren’t covered by private insurance. It can also be helpful to reach out to in-home care providers or other family members and friends to see if care-related duties can be spread out so you can still earn sufficient income from your paying job.
3. Caregiver Role Strain
The role you play as a caregiver can lead to mental and physical exhaustion over time. This can happen if your loved one has a chronic condition or other family members have convinced your loved one you’re not doing a good job as a caregiver. There may also be times when your loved one has unreasonable expectations of you. Exhaustion related to these issues may be addressed by:
- Setting reasonable boundaries and care expectations with your loved one
- Having a family meeting to air out differences and get everyone on the same page
- Talking to your loved one’s doctor about appropriate chronic care steps
Caring for a senior loved one 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 Roseville Home Care Assistance for the help they need. We provide high-quality live-in and respite care as well as comprehensive Alzheimer’s, dementia, stroke, and Parkinson’s care.
4. Physical Demands
It’s not unusual for caregivers to have to provide regular assistance with bathing, feeding, moving from beds to chairs, and other physically demanding tasks. This is more likely to be the case if your loved one has conditions that affect his or her mental or physical capabilities. If this level of care is making you constantly exhausted, consider in-home care assistance, an approach to care provided by trained individuals that allows your loved one to remain in the comfort of his or her own home.
5. Mental Fatigue
Caregivers sometimes become isolated from other people in their lives because of care-related demands, which can contribute to depression and anxiety. You may also experience mental fatigue if your loved one is living with a progressive condition such as Parkinson’s or Alzheimer’s. Ease mental fatigue related to issues of this nature by:
- Joining a support group for caregivers
- Keeping a journal so you can express your feelings
- Having a trusted family member or friend to confide in
- Talking to your doctor if you’re having a difficult time mentally
Family caregivers need to care for their own wellbeing. If you’re caring for an aging loved one and are feeling overwhelmed, consider hiring a professional caregiver to provide respite care. Roseville families who want to prevent burnout can turn to Home Care Assistance. One of our professional caregivers can assist your loved one at home while you take a nap, go to work, run errands, or go on vacation. Contact one of our experienced Care Managers today at (916) 226-3737 to learn more about our reliable in-home care services.