July 22, 2022
Caring for loved ones is a noble and selfless act of love. And with a growing senior population, the number of people taking on such care duties is expected to increase.
The responsibilities that come with this role can unbalance a caregivers’ life. Eventually, these can lead to something known as caregiver burnout. Fortunately, the experienced and caring teams at modern retirement communities can help.
Keep reading to learn about caregiver burnout, including its causes and symptoms, and how a senior living community like Kendal on Hudson can help.
What Are the Symptoms of Caregiver Burnout?
Often, as a caregiver becomes responsible for managing a loved one’s activities of daily living (ADLs), they feel obligated to do their very best.
But as a family caregiver, you may encounter unanticipated challenges when meeting the health care needs of an older adult. Taking note of burnout symptoms is crucial if you want to provide the best possible care for your loved one. These include:
- The things that once excited you have become less interesting
- Withdrawal from one’s families and social circles
- Constantly feeling sick
- Angry, hopeless or exhausted feelings
- Weight gain or loss
- Changes in your sleep pattern or difficulties sleeping
- You’re beginning to grow resentful of your loved one
Caregiving often means sacrificing free time, income, and your personal schedule. And despite the best intentions, hopelessness and guilt can still set in.
How Can You Prevent Caregiver Burnout?
It’s OK to feel run-down, and you’re not alone. In fact, according to Caregiving.org, the number of adult caregivers in the U.S. grew to an astounding 53 million in 2020. Despite those numbers, you have some practical options to help you stay grounded and in touch with yourself.
Here are some things you can do:
- Be careful not to overextend yourself. Sometimes when a loved one is in need, it’s easy to put more pressure on yourself than you can handle. Because it can be so difficult to set boundaries, Life Plan Communities step in to provide the expert, necessary care.
- Ensure you have adequate resources and support. There are limits to the quality of care your loved one will receive when they’re aging in place. By contrast, a community like Kendal on Hudson is fully equipped with special accommodations in higher levels of care such as Assisted Living and Memory Support.
- Expect the unexpected, but be realistic. In the beginning of your caregiver journey, you may have idealistic expectations. Even with positive results, age-related health conditions can feel like a losing battle.
- Be a better caregiver by taking care of yourself. To accept and meet caregiving responsibilities, caregivers must almost always make sacrifices. But when caregivers lose touch with the things they love, they’re no longer able to offer the same quality of loving care.
What Kendal on Hudson Can Do for Your Loved One
You may have heard the term “Life Plan Community” while doing your research. (Kendal on Hudson is Sleepy Hollow’s newest Life Plan Community.) These are senior living communities offering lifestyle amenities, including wellness centers, lifelong learning programs, first-class dining options, and a full suite of care services for residents in case health needs change over time.
Nestled in the Hudson woodlands, we offer Independent Living along with a full continuum of care, including Assisted Living, Memory Support, Skilled Nursing and Rehabilitation.