What Happens When Caregivers Burn Out?

With the growing number of seniors in North America, caregiver burn out is a very real condition. It can happen to any caregiver after any amount of time but usually happens within the first month to six weeks of senior care giving. It’s important to recognize the signs of caregiver burnout so that if and when it does happen, you can seek support through your network – ie. doctor, friends, support group.

• Not eating right. A change in eating patterns is common in caregiver burnout. It might be too little, or too much, and is an indicator of internal stress.

• Depression. Feeling an extreme amount of stress and possible thoughts of suicide is a big indicator of caregiver burnout.

• No longer interested in your hobbies. You used to like reading, now you don’t, you used to like going to the movies, seeing friends, etc., now you don’t want to. Activities you previously enjoyed that seem uninteresting to you now is a big sign of caregiver burnout.

• You don’t want to spend time with anyone. Not wanting to see friends or family members, or not wanting to interact with people in general is an indicator that your care giving duties have become a strain on you mentally.

• Problems sleeping. You aren’t sleeping enough, you have trouble falling asleep, you don’t want to get out of bed in the morning – these are all signs that your care giving duties are getting the better of you.

• Your immunity is low. You have aches and pains, and even a cold that doesn’t seem to want to go away. A weakened immunity is a reaction to stress.

If you find that these symptoms are happening to you and you believe it’s due to caregiver burnout, don’t hesitate to enlist someone to help you support your loved one, and/or take some time to yourself. It’s important that you spend time on yourself throughout the day. Even 20 minutes a day meditating, walking in nature, etc., will help you feel refreshed and rejuvenated during this hard time.

If you live in the N. Vancouver area, and would like information about senior care in Vancouver, or free referrals for assisted living in North Shore, you can call the Always Best Care N. Vancouver location at 778-945-3010 to set up a free care consultation. They look forward to talking with you about your future!

Helping A Senior Improve Their Physical Fitness

Everybody knows that as we get older, it can get more difficult to move, and energy levels aren’t what they used to be. However, staying physically active is a great way to slow down the aging process, and to keep the body running at optimal levels. And even though doctors let seniors know the importance of physical exercise, some seniors remain reluctant to dive in. Here are some ways to help a senior improve their physical fitness:

• Let them know that they can take baby steps. Too often, when people think about physical fitness they think about marathon runners and triathlon athletes. Of course this idea will be daunting for seniors, so make sure they know that they can take baby steps in their progress. Also, let them know that improving their diet doesn’t mean eating “rabbit” food all the time - a simple swap of one piece of junk food for an apple or vegetable is a great place to start.

• Regular exercise: Regular exercise should be encouraged and if you take part in it, too, it’ll be more fun and easier to accomplish. Suggest group activities that the family can enjoy like hikes, walks, bike rides, even yard work. By increasing the oxygen level to the muscles and the brain, the body is renewing itself and warding off disease.

• Encourage them to drink at least 6-8 glasses of water a day. It can be easy for seniors to get dehydrated because the sense of being thirsty decreases as we age. Make sure they keep a water bottle nearby, and that they are continually refilling it. Hydration means protection from viral and bacterial infections, and raises immunity levels.

• Encourage them with praise. Changing lifestyles can be difficult for anyone. Incorporating exercise and eating right might seem like a fruitless path (at first) so encourage them when you can, even when the praise is small, it is meaningful.

Always Best Care has been North America’s premier senior caregiver for the past 20 years. Seniors living in the North Vancouver area, who are interested in home care in West Vancouver, can call the Always Best Care N Vancouver location at 778-945-3010 or email them at hhamidi@abc-seniors.com to set up a free care consultation. A professional care coordinator will be happy to discuss in-home care in Burnaby, as well as free referrals to assisted living communities. They look forward to talking with you!