Family caregivers are an essential part of support systems for those who are unable to perform essential medical tasks in addition to basic daily activities. Their work is often unpaid and can be exhausting, resulting in significant negative effects on the caregiver's mental, physical, financial, and social health. This pressure can lead the caregiver to commit acts of abuse toward older adults. Risk factors include drug or alcohol use, high levels of stress, depression, lack of social support, lack of training, and emotional or financial dependence on the older person.

For this reason, it is important for caregivers to ask for help when they need it, take immediate steps to relieve stress, and engage in self-care.

Ask for help: To ensure the safety and health of both the caregiver and the older person, work to share caregiving responsibilities. Identify the older person's needs and coordinate with other trusted people, based on availability and abilities, to create a healthy caregiving community. If you do not have other people to help, Medicare and Medicaid may cover some of these services.

Immediate Stress Relief: Family caregivers are susceptible to stress and burnout due to the intense nature of their work. Symptoms include exhaustion, anxiety, irritability, sudden physical changes, physical pain, depression, resentment, and an over-reliance on addictions. In the event of caregiver burnout, it is crucial to seek immediate opportunities for respite care.

Self care: Although family caregivers spend a significant amount of time caring for others, it is equally important that they also spend time caring for themselves. Some self-care methods include:

• Set limits on what can be done.
• Take care of your health by exercising, staying hydrated, eating balanced meals and scheduling time to rest.
• Allocate time each week to participate in pleasurable activities.
• Lean on others for help and support.
• Prioritize getting a good night's sleep.
• Recognize the work done so far.

Source: Caregiver Respite: An Essential Component of Home & Community-Based Long-Term Care – PMC (nih.gov)

Source: Sharing Caregiving Responsibilities | National Institute on Aging (nih.gov)

Source: Home Care for Seniors | Visiting Angels

Source: What Are Common Signs of Caregiver Burnout? (visitingangels.com)

Source: Resources for Caregivers | ARCH National Respite Network & Resource Center (archrespite.org)

Source: Self-Care for Caregivers | Patient Education | UCSF Health