Caregiver Burn Out Research Paper

The Home Health Aide and Caregiver Burnout

Caregiver burnout is caused by too much long-term stress. It occurs when you feel overwhelmed and can’t meet the constant demands of caregiving. As the stress continues to mount, caregivers begin to lose the interest and motivation that led them to care for their loved one in the first place. The primary reasons caregivers fall victim to caregiver burnout is a routine failure to take time for themselves. With dedicated care consuming every waking minute. and often interrupting those minutes reserved for sleep, there simply isn't time for anything else.

The lack of sleep, frustration, stress, anxiety, and, oftentimes, the realization that things aren't getting any better, lead to emotional and psychological challenges that impact a caregiver's physical
health as well. Researchers have found that the majority long-term caregivers suffer from one or more chronic illnesses as well as depression.

Common signs and symptoms of caregiver burnout include:

Feelings of depression Social withdrawal Increasingly poor eating habits

Problems at work Feelings of helplessness Increased use of drugs/alcohol

Increased lethargy Thoughts of death/suicide Missing appointments

Outbursts of anger Increased sleep problems Treating your loved one roughly

While this list is not all-inclusive, and experiencing some of the signs does not mean you are burnt out, these items provide a clear warning.
Further, if you are experiencing the symptoms on this list, they are only going to get worse if they are ignored.

The good news is that there are ways to avoid caregiver burnout. The first step, if keeping your loved one in the comfort or their own home is important, is considering the assistance of a home health aid.

A home health aid does not take the place of family. They can do as little or as much as is needed to help your senior loved one, while allowing the caregiver to address their own safety and well-being. Some of the supports a home health aid provide are light housekeeping, laundry, cooking, shopping, running errands, personal care (bathing, grooming, dressing), toileting, incontinence care, transportation, etc. Professional home health aid companies, like Comfort Keepers, also offer specialized services for seniors requiring transition assistance from hospital to home or for very difficult situations such as dementia or Alzheimer's
care.

Care services do not need to be full-time or even regular. Sometimes, family caregivers just need a break. Respite care is the service that provides for these situations. With respite care, home health aids will ensure the senior receives all necessary care and support while the caregiver takes some much needed time off. The services can be utilized for as little as 30 minutes or as much as several consecutive days. Best of all, there is no specific reason needed for taking the time off. While respite services can be used for important appointments and meetings, it can also be used for a vacation, sleep, meeting up with friends, or simply taking a few mental health days.

In short, caregiver burnout is very real and very serious. With home health aide support, however, you don't have to fall into the caregiver burnout trap.