Caregiving is a very fulfilling profession. Nothing feels better than providing care and support to people who most need it. Despite its rewarding aspects, being a caregiver requires a lot of empathy, patience, and energy. Not only that, caregiving can be a time-consuming venture, which easily results in burnout and other mental health concerns.
As the aging population increases, caregiving is becoming a profession even for those who aren’t licensed healthcare professionals. According to Mayo Clinic, about one in three people in the U.S. provides senior care or family caregiving as informal caregivers. This is possible by enrolling in training programs or joining volunteer research opportunities for patients or caregivers.
Caregiving affects people of all lifestyles, races, and incomes. Understanding the challenges caregivers face is important to help them provide quality care to their patients. Sadly, there’s little evidence that talks about a caregiver’s behaviors, attitudes, and perceptions that hinder their ability to provide a fulfilling caregiving experience. In this article, we’ll discuss the problems caregivers face and how to overcome them.
The challenges of caregiving
Time management is a common issue for caregivers. Caring for a senior or a patient is a very demanding and time-consuming task, leaving them with lesser time for themselves and their family. Often, they invest plenty of time in caregiving responsibilities, which causes them to sacrifice their personal time, including vacations and hobbies. Some even have trouble organizing their caregiving schedules because of piled-up work.
A small percentage of caregivers are also reporting about their worsening health situation since they started caregiving. Providing care for serious mental health conditions, such as Alzheimer’s disease and dementia, is causing a lot of emotional stress. Other caregiving services involve regular physical demands, such as lifting and supporting disabled and immobile patients.
Sleep deprivation is also a huge problem for caregivers, especially if they mix up their sleep-wake cycle. It can take a significant toll on their health, particularly those suffering from symptoms of burnout.
The lack of privacy is also a widespread concern among family caregivers. Since they have to be at home to care for their patients, it can be difficult to have time for themselves with other family members around, especially in tighter spaces. It’s almost impossible to establish personal boundaries since it can be challenging to avoid constant interactions.
The idea of asking for help is also a prominent barrier in caregiving. Most caregivers feel embarrassed to seek assistance from family members. They assume all caregiving duties are their responsibility, and asking for assistance shows weakness. This can lead to feelings of guilt, which can make them feel incapable of providing care.
Lastly, caregivers are also at risk of isolation and depression. The intense work demands and loss of personal time and social connections expose caregivers to various mental health concerns.
In terms of finances, there are plenty of cases when caregivers provide services that end up getting unpaid. According to the National Alliance for Caregiving (NAC), millions of people in the U.S. provide unpaid caregiving. This happens when a caregiver provides long-term care to the patient, causing the family to feel the financial strain of paying for their services.
Ways to address caregiving challenges
The physical and emotional demands of caregiving can put pressure even on the most resilient individuals. Thus, it’s important to utilize the tools and resources available to provide effective care for your patients. Remember, if you can’t look after yourself, you’re not capable of providing care for someone else.
When discussing caregiving arrangements, inform the family members about the type of care you can provide and which ones require assistance. Also, you need to understand that there’s no such thing as a “perfect” caregiver. Feelings of guilt are completely normal, but you need to focus only on things you can really provide.
Social connection is an effective remedy for those suffering from loneliness, isolation, stress, and depression. You need to find communities or support groups that provide encouragement, validation, and social activities to find a balance between work and personal life. Your support group may involve fellow caregivers who understand the challenges you go through as a care provider.
It’s safe to say caregivers are one of the unsung heroes of today’s society who play a substantial yet under-appreciated role. As more people suffer from chronic illnesses and require home care, caregivers will be even more essential, particularly for families and healthcare providers. In this case, clients have to address their needs to provide quality care to their loved ones.
