Caregiver burnout is common during hospice for loved ones. End-of-life care can add more stress and make self-care crucial for assisting others. Studies have shown that fifty percent of family caregivers struggle to keep up with their own mental health and feel overwhelmed.
Burnout can refer to the following:
- Chronic Stress
- Total Exhaustion
- Emotional Distance/Negativity
- Constantly Feeling Overwhelmed
What Creates Caregiver Burnout?
Caring for others can be rewarding, but it can also come with a flood of emotional and physical fatigue. Caregivers, particularly hospice care workers, often have to help in critical situations.
- Terminally Ill Children
- Seniors With Memory Loss
- Painful Conditions/Diseases
- Grief From Family/Friends
Caregivers can get overwhelmed and often bypass tending to their own health. Role confusion concerns separating their role as caregivers from their roles as friends, spouses, parents, and children. The results can lead to symptoms associated with hopelessness, fatigue, and burnout.
The Symptoms Of Hospice Caregiver Burnout
Tending to the health and emotional wellness of others typically means less time to take care of your own needs. Often, you may not even recognize when you are experiencing burnout. You may become physically sick and experience one or more of the consequences of depression, stress, anxiety, and fatigue.
- Physical & Emotional Exhaustion
- Changes In Appetite
- Weight Loss Or Weight Gain
- Withdrawing From Others
- Loss Of Interest In Hobbies & Activities
- Feelings Of Depression
- Changes In Sleep Patterns
Caring For Others By Caring For Yourself
Self-care is essential to prevent and eliminate the woes of burnout. Many of these can be taken care of personally with time and effort. However, part of self-care may call for other intervention approaches ranging from medications to healing and comforting therapy or guidance counseling.
Here are some steps caregivers can take to help prevent burnout during this stressful time.
- Eat A Balanced Diet
- Participate In Routine Exercise
- Get Plenty of Sleep
- Share Your Frustrations/Feelings With Others
- Establish Realistic Goals For Home & Work Balance
- Schedule Routine Counseling Or Therapy
- Join A Medical Provider Support Group
- Consult With Your Spiritual Advisor
- Ask For Help When Needed
- Put Aside Time For Yourself
You Can Take A Break
Walking through end-of-life treatment with your loved ones is tough and stressful. Amore Hospice Care in Las Vegas can help you ease the burden with our in-home hospice services. Contact us today to find the best care for you and your family.