What is Caregiver Burnout?

Caregiver Burnout

“I knew she was tired, I just didn’t know how tired.”

“ She seemed to be forgetting about her own doctor appointments, was no longer up for hosting Thanksgiving but brushed us off when we offered to help with anything.”

“I wanted to spend more time talking with her because I knew she was lonely.”

I watched my Granny go through caregiver burnout while trying to care for Gramps. She was so focused on him that she neglected her own needs. We had no idea, until it was too late for us to intervene. Thinking back on my experience with my grandparents, I would have done a better job if I had really known what to look for in my Granny. If I knew the signs, I may have known that she had been experiencing burnout, for a very long time. My granny was a stubborn German, did not like going to the doctor, and was very resistant to accepting help. She took care of every little detail in everyone else’s life, never missed a birthday call, always remembered the names of our boyfriends and girlfriends, and was very generous with Christmas presents. She was family first, always.

Here are a few signs I saw in my own Granny that I can now identify as Caregiver Burnout:

• Fatigue

I found out that Granny had been sleeping on the couch for the last few years of her life. Gramps had a tendency to wake up multiple times at night and get very confused. So Granny wanted to make sure she was always aware of where he was at. Changes in sleep patterns or a general lack of sleep can be a sign of burnout.

2. Decline in Health

My Granny was so concerned about making sure my Gramps health was being maintained, that she neglected to see the need to take care of her own. My Granny had had symptoms of Uterine Cancer for one full year, but didn’t share it with anyone until it was too late. It saddens me to think my Granny was suffering alone, with no support.

If you resonate with the experiences my family had, you or your loved one may be experiencing caregiver burnout. If I could go back in time given the information I have now, and talk to my Granny about this, this is what I would say:

• You aren’t meant to do this alone.

Involve your community by telling your family or close friends what’s going on, because more than likely they want to help!

2. There are lots of different care options to choose from.

We wish we would have known Gramps needed extra help at home. Whether it was in home care, or moving to an assisted living or adult family home, there are always more options. We help families explore all their options.

We provide the helping hand you need to look for other options and walk with you on this journey. Please let us know how we can help.

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