Being a social worker for a Connecticutt homecare company, I have spoken with people from all walks of life regarding their health concerns, both for themselves and a loved one. The stress of caring for someone can really take its toll. I wanted to share some of the risks with my readers, not with the intention of scaring them away from caring for their loved ones, but in the hopes that they will seek all the help available to care for themselves.
Anxiety and depression are the most widespread complaints that I hear about, although physical issues of a real or perceived nature can be equally debilitating. It is not unusual for caregivers to suffer sleeplessness, be predisposed to substance abuse, even aggressiveness toward the senior or other family members.
In other words, if a caregiver is depressed or stressed from caring for a loved one, she is less likely to take care of herself – she might skip doctor’s appointments, eat unhealthily, take up questionable habits, forgo her usual grooming and socializing, etc. As you can imagine, when a caregiver fails to care for herself, she will suffer both emotionally and physically, which can only negatively impact on her ability to function her capacity as a caregiver. In such circumstances, caregivers hesitantly admit to resenting the people that they care for.
So what can be done? Thankfully, plenty. Support groups are one of my most advocated options as they provide an environment where caregivers report feeling less isolated, validated through the bonds of mutual help. Ask your friends, neighbors, or family for help, and be specific about the requests; for example visiting at a certain hour and day, helping with bill-paying, taking Mom to a doctor’s appointment – all of which most certainly alleviates some of the burden. In short, I encourage all caregivers to take care of themselves, and to please reach out to professionals such as myself who can offer suggestions and emotional support.
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