Sometimes burnout sneaks up in the car. You leave work in Chandler, drive down to Sun Lakes to check on your dad, pick up his prescriptions on the way, and sit in his driveway for a minute before going in because you just need a moment of quiet. Then you head home to make dinner for your own family and answer emails you didn't get to. You love your dad. You're also exhausted.
November is National Family Caregivers Month, a time to recognize the people who care for parents, spouses, and other loved ones every day. This year's theme from Caregiver Action Network is "Care Connects Us," and it's a good reminder that caregivers need support, too.
What is caregiver burnout?
Caregiver burnout is the physical and emotional exhaustion that builds when you care for a loved one for a long time without enough rest or help. It often shows up as constant tiredness, trouble sleeping, irritability, getting sick more often, and feeling guilty no matter how much you do. It is not a sign that you love your parent any less.
Signs you may be heading toward burnout
- You feel like you are always "on call," even at work.
- You have cancelled plans with friends so many times they've stopped asking.
- Small things make you snap, and then you feel bad about it.
- You can't remember the last time you did something just for you.
- You keep telling everyone "I'm fine."
What helps family caregivers in the East Valley?
The most helpful thing is usually the simplest: regular time off. Even a few hours a week where you know your loved one is safe can make a big difference. A few other ideas:
- Split up the tasks. If siblings live out of state, they can take on bill paying, insurance calls, or scheduling from afar.
- Look into benefits. Long-term care insurance, VA benefits, and the Medicare GUIDE Program for families living with dementia may help with the cost of care.
How Senior Helpers of Gilbert & Chandler gives East Valley caregivers a break
At Senior Helpers of Gilbert & Chandler, our Respite Care brings a trained caregiver into your loved one's home for a few hours or a few days, so you can rest, work, travel, or just be a son or daughter again instead of a full-time coordinator. While you take a break, we can help with:
- Meal preparation and grocery shopping
- Light housekeeping and laundry
- Medication reminders
- Bathing, dressing, and grooming
- Rides to doctor's appointments and errands
- Companionship and activities they enjoy
- Overnight support so you can get a full night's sleep
We also specialize in Alzheimer's and dementia care through our Senior Gems program and in Parkinson's care, so families caring for a loved one with more complex needs can get a break, too.
We also offer the LIFE Profile Assessment, a data-driven assessment that helps identify potential risks that could affect a senior's ability to remain safe and independent at home. One of the five areas it looks at is Burden of Care, which means it looks at how you, the caregiver, are doing too. That helps us build a customized care plan that supports the whole family.
We understand how overwhelming this can be. We were the first home care provider in Arizona to earn the CHAP Age-Friendly Care at Home Certification, and we only hire caregivers we would feel comfortable caring for our loved ones.
Where can family caregivers in the East Valley get a break?
If you've been carrying the weight of all the responsibilities, this month is a good time to take a little off your shoulders. Call us at 480-908-0976 and tell us a little bit about what's going on. We can set up a free in-home assessment and talk through what a few hours of help each week could look like. We serve Sun Lakes, Chandler, Gilbert, Maricopa, and the East Valley.