When you sustain a spinal cord injury, seeking help with activities of daily living becomes a necessary task in life. Personal care can be a challenging job, whether one is caring for a disabled family member or for people with disabilities in facilities or private homes.
Experiencing burnout is common among caregivers.
Caregiver burnout is a state of physical, emotional and mental exhaustion that happens while you’re taking care of someone else.
Caregiver burnout especially threatens those caring for family members in the home because they often lack outside support they need.
Signs of caregiver burnout
Fatigue is more than chronic tiredness and lack of energy. It can causes headaches, dizziness, sore muscles, muscle weakness, slowed reflexes and responses, and even impaired decision-making and judgement.
Family caregivers often report high levels of anxiety. Anxiety manifests in physical ways too. Caregivers experiencing burnout may experience nausea, headaches, trouble sleeping, restlessness, irritability and depression.
Spinal cord injury changes our lives so much. Both the injured and the family caregiver experience loss and sacrifice. Experiencing burnout exacerbates depression. A family caregiver may experience apathy, guilt, hopelessness, loss of interest or pleasure in activities, or mood swings. A depressed caregiver may lack sleep, appetite, and the ability to concentrate.
A fatigued, anxious, depressed caregiver cannot perform their job efficiently, which puts you at risk. Burnout can also put family relationships at risk.
How can you help your family caregivers avoid burnout?
- Try to reduce the workload of individual caregivers. By dividing your care between personal care attendants, you’re being mindful of the breaks and rest they need.
- Express your gratitude for your caregivers and show them you appreciate their efforts daily. When they feel taken for granted it’s easy to get burned out.
- Participate in therapy as a family with a mental health professional. Sometimes an outside perspective can help us navigate the difficult dynamics of family member caregiver relationships.
- Consult the SCI community. Talking with other families in your situation and participating in support groups can help you and your family caregivers to feel less alone.
- You may be able to give your caregivers a break by taking advantage of skilled nursing respite care or adult daycare programs.
- Medicaid may pay a personal care attendant, compensating your family member, or affording you the opportunity to hire an alternative caregiver.
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