When Do Family Caregivers Need More Help?

Family caregivers sacrifice a lot of time and energy from their own lives to help the seniors they love. The problem is that they often don’t realize when they’re at a point where they need some more help. Having assistance from respite care providers reduces stress and strain that can cause burnout in family caregivers.

Feeling Overwhelmed or Drained

It isn’t unusual for family caregivers to start to feel overwhelmed and even drained as they continue caring for the seniors they love. The problem occurs if they ignore those feelings and continue pushing themselves. Pushing past mental and physical exhaustion is a fast track to burnout. Home care providers can take over temporarily, but family caregivers have to be willing to take a break.

Dealing with Increased Frustration

If family caregivers start to notice that they’re frustrated more often, the problem could be that they need a break. Emotional dysregulation is common when someone is overwhelmed and overworked. Letting respite care providers take over on a regular basis allows family caregivers to get the time away that helps them regulate themselves again.

Experiencing Physical Issues

Stress and strain cause a great many different symptoms. Some are obvious, like frustration and exhaustion. But there are others, too, like increased body aches and pains, frequent headaches, and other physical discomfort. Busy family caregivers may worry that these are related to a health issue, but if they’re primarily experiencing stress then taking a break more often can help alleviate these issues.

Feeling Isolated and Disconnected

Caregiving takes up a lot of time and energy, and that often means that family caregivers don’t spend as much time with other people in their lives. Over time, that can leave family caregivers feeling disconnected and isolated. For their own well-being, it’s important for family caregivers to nurture all of the relationships in their lives, not just the ones with the seniors they care for.

Lacking Sleep

Even when family caregivers are exhausted, they might be missing out on sleep. The problem with that is that their brains and bodies don’t get the chance to refresh themselves. Respite care can offer family caregivers the chance to recover and get the rest they need so that they can get back to all the things they want to do.

Neglecting Themselves

If family caregivers are neglecting any other areas of their lives, like their own health issues, that’s another big indicator that they need additional help. Failing to take care of themselves leaves family caregivers in no position to be able to help someone else, especially on a continual basis. Having help from respite care services creates space to undo some of that neglect.

Family caregivers need to pay attention to the signs that let them know they need some extra help. Respite care providers have experience taking care of aging adults and helping family caregivers feel more comfortable taking time away. It might feel difficult at first, but regularly taking that respite time leaves family caregivers in a better position overall.

If you or an aging loved one are considering respite care in New Rochelle, NY, please contact the caring staff at Griswold Care Pairing for Scarsdale & Yonkers today. (914) 337-5028.