Caregivers need to take care of themselves too The secret to surviving long term caregiving is to pace yourself and rest when you’re tired. Being constantly exhausted and severely stressed can lead to serious health issues and decrease your capacity to care for someone else. But some caregivers resist the advice to take regular breaks even when they have access to help. …
Don’t let undeserved caregiver guilt add to your stress There are many common misconceptions about what caregivers should do or how they should feel that can cause guilt that isn’t deserved. Unfortunately, these misguided beliefs and unrealistic expectations about caregiving can also hurt you by causing burnout, compassion fatigue, or serious health conditions caused by chronic stress. Caregiver guilt might also influence…
Caregiver guilt is common, and stressful Caregivers often have very high (and often unfair) expectations for themselves. That can add a significant amount of stress and guilt to an already tough job, reduce your quality of life, and make it harder to care for your older adult. Dr. Barry J. Jacobs, an AARP caregiving expert, has years of personal experience caring for…
Caregiving isn’t a one-person show Tell me if this sounds familiar: your to-do lists are longer than a CVS receipt, you can’t remember the last time you got a full night’s sleep, and you haven’t had a relaxed meal in months. You’re exhausted and feeling resentful. If this sounds like your life, you’re not alone. Too many family caregivers feel like this.…
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