When a senior loved one needs support, it’s often the families that step in to help with caregiving. However, as seniors’ needs change, caregiving can look less like assistance and more like a full-time job. Family caregiver burnout is a risk that all families have to be aware of.
What is Caregiver Burnout?
Caregiver burnout is a state of physical, mental, and emotional exhaustion that some caregivers face when taking care of someone. Stressed caregivers can experience both mental and physical symptoms, and over time these symptoms can lead to more chronic or dangerous health conditions.
How do you know if you’re experiencing this type of caregiver stress? Our team has put together a quiz based on common caregiver burnout symptoms to help you measure your level of stress. Here are the questions you should ask yourself – once you’re done, tally your score to assess your situation.
Each “Yes” answer counts as one point, so add them up to get your total score. Here’s how you can interpret your caregiver burnout score.
If you scored 5 or less, you have little to no burnout.
This score indicates that you’re managing your needs and your loved one’s needs well and don’t need to make any adjustments to your current care plan. However, you should realize that caregiving is a long-term commitment and likely will not get any easier, and you should prepare for that in the future. Put practices in place now to ensure your own well-being so you can provide the best possible care for your loved one. Some tips include:
- Monitor your emotions and manage them rather than ignoring them
- Exercise, eat healthily, and take care of your body and physical health
- Stay on top of your own healthcare needs with your medical providers
If you scored 6-10, you’re experiencing a low level of burnout.
This score indicates that you’re having some trouble balancing everything, and for some people it’s the tipping point into full caregiver burnout. It’s important to recognize your stress in this stage and then take steps to alleviate it by evaluating your situation and how long you can continue caregiving.
This is also the time for setting boundaries and exploring options for help. Help can include hiring home services, exploring assisted living options, or simply having someone relieve you part of the time so you can handle self-care.
If you scored 11-15, you’re experiencing moderate levels of burnout.
In this stage of caregiver burnout, your body and emotions are warning you that you may be pushing yourself too far. As a caregiver, you experience both physical and mental stress, and they can both start to take their toll on you. This makes you more prone to chronic conditions and illnesses.
At this point in your caregiver journey, you may want to pause to address any health concerns as well as ask friends and family for help, even if it’s something as small as running an errand for you. This may also be a good time to explore respite care at a senior living community for your loved one, which is a temporary stay designed to give caregivers relief.
If you scored 16-20, you’re experiencing high levels of burnout.
At this point, caregiver burnout is high and your welfare – and the welfare of your loved one – are at stake. You can’t properly care for someone else if you don’t care for yourself. Further, continuous stress puts you at risk for depression, anxiety, strokes, and heart attacks. This level of caregiver burnout often prevents you from providing the right level of care, which puts your loved one at risk for neglect.
Now is the time to find an alternative source of care for your senior loved one; even a respite stay can give you time to form a plan of action. You should also consult your doctor about your own health and start to consider full-time senior living for your loved one so they can receive proper care around the clock.
Explore Senior Living Support at Sundale Senior Living of The Woodlands and Sundale Senior Living of Huntsville
Ready to explore care options for your senior loved one? Chat with one of our advisors; we’re ready and waiting to answer questions, give you more information, and help your loved one start the transition into our senior living community.
