Being a family caregiver can be a wonderful opportunity. This is a chance for you to spend more quality time with your senior, and to give back to them by giving them the care, nurturing, and love that they gave you as you were growing up. As good as this role can be for you, it can also be challenging. One issue that many family caregivers for elderly adults face is stress. Caregiver stress can make you more vulnerable to a variety of risks to your mental, emotional, and physical health and well-being, and can put a strain on your relationships with your parent as well as others in your life. By understanding the risks that caregivers stress and why they are at this risk can help you to feel more prepared for the challenges of caring for your parent, and to protect yourself from this stress you can be a healthier, happier, and more effective caregiver for your senior.
Some things that you should know about caregiver stress include:
• There are more than 34 million unpaid caregivers throughout the United States caring for an adult who is suffering from a disability or illness
• The average caregiver provides 20 hours or more of care for their care recipient
• 35 percent of caregivers report having a difficult time finding time for themselves during their care journey
• 29 percent of caregivers report experiencing some degree of physical or emotional stress during the course of their care journey
• 29 percent of caregivers report that they have a difficult time balancing the needs of their family and their care responsibilities
• More than half of caregivers report that they do not have the time to take care of themselves or feel too tired to do the things that they need to do to properly take care of their mental, emotional, or physical needs while caring for their care recipient
If you have found that you are suffering from caregiver stress or feel that your care responsibilities have increased to the point at which you are concerned that you will not be able to fulfill them to the best of your ability while also managing the other needs and obligations in your life, now is the perfect time for you to consider starting home care for them. A home care provider can step in to take on some of your elderly loved one’s care needs so that they are fulfilled in a way that is respectful, nurturing, compassionate, and effective, while also encouraging them to be as independent, active, and engaged as possible. This can not only help your aging loved one to live a more engaged and fulfilling quality of life as they age in place, but can also reduce your caregiver stress by allowing you to step back, focus on other elements of your life, and ensure that the efforts that you do put forth for them are as effective and beneficial as possible throughout your care journey.
Source
https://www.helpguide.org/articles/stress/caregiving-stress-and-burnout.htm
https://www.cdc.gov/aging/caregiving/facts.htm
https://caregiveraction.org/resources/caregiver-statistics
https://www.caregiving.org/wp-content/uploads/2015/05/2015_CaregivingintheUS_Final-Report-June-4_WEB.pdf
If you or an aging loved one are considering caregivers in Elkhorn, NE, please contact the caring staff at Seniors Helping Seniors® Greater Omaha at (402) 215-0308 today.