Caregiver strain can be defined as the high amount of stress a person who is a caregiver, professionally or a caregiver of a family member, may feel in the work they do. Especially for people who take care of a family member, the inordinate amount of stress that can accumulate is significant and may impact physical and mental health. With greater numbers of people assuming this role, especially in the care of aging parents, it is important to recognize the potential for great emotional stress and learn ways to cope with or relieve it.
Perhaps the best first step for a person working as a caregiver is to understand the nature of the care required based on illness a person has. Taking care of someone with cancer who is dying may have very different requirements than taking care of an adult with Alzheimer’s disease or a child with a severe illness. Understanding what is needed and what is likely to occur as a disease progresses can be of great use, since there may be fewer unpredictable moments that could significantly add to caregiver strain.
In understanding the disease, people should also be aware of any general or specific organizations that provide support features for people with that disease or families affected by it. These may vary by community, but one valuable thing to find is opportunities for respite. This is when someone else comes into the home to provide care for a set period of time so the primary caregiver can take a break.
It is vital to find a way to take breaks because providing care 24/7 leaves no time to take care of the self. In fact, studies on caregivers show they often neglect to do important things like getting yearly health screenings, which may not only add to stress, but may also shorten lifespan. If there is no respite care in the community, people should investigate other potential scenarios. These could include day care hospitals or programs, and temporary hospitalization. Another alternative is to share caregiving responsibilities with other family members.
When possible, a daily break is most advantageous, and caregiver strain may be relieved by moments of alone time. It’s not a bad idea to get some exercise in on these planned breaks, since this is a natural stress reliever. A number of people also suffer because financial pressure may increase as a result of caregiving. It could help to explore options for government assistance or private assistance from charities if money begins to get tight.
One significant contribution to caregiver strain may be lack of sleep. Many people cannot sleep easily or well due to the expression of another person’s illness. Lack of sleep has direct association with development of depression, and it’s important people look for ways to try to handle this. They might use a video monitor or baby monitor to hear if a person needs help in the night, or they could perhaps hire a night nurse or caregiver that watches at night. It’s highly recommended that people try to get a full eight hours of sleep, since this can correspond to lower stress levels.
There are a few emotions common to caregiver strain. These include feeling guilt that a person is not providing the most perfect care. Another emotion that many feel is grief and/or resentment. Most people have complex feelings that can even be direct opposites, which is confusing and painful. Getting support to deal with these overwhelming emotions is another way to relieve caregiver strain. Help could be available through a private counselor or a support group (or both). Being able to talk about feelings with others who can understand them can prove very useful.
