Common Challenges Family Caregivers Face
Millions of people around the US are actively caring for an aging member of their family, including right here in Northern Central Indiana. While family caregiving is an enormously selfless and rewarding act, it also comes with many unique challenges.
Understanding the Hidden Struggles of Family Caregivers
The numerous responsibilities that come with family caregiving can take a toll on the person providing it, leading to stress and burnout. Understanding these struggles is the first step toward finding solutions and support.
Emotional Exhaustion
Watching a loved one cope with the effects of chronic health issues often creates an enormous emotional strain. No matter how much you help your family member, there’s nothing you can do to cure their disease. It’s no wonder, then, that one-third of family caregivers report having a serious mental health condition as a result of this stress.
Physical Health Concerns
In addition to emotional exhaustion, caregiving can be physically demanding, especially when it involves assisting seniors with mobility or taking on household chores. Over time, these tasks can lead to physical health problems and even injury.
Family Challenges
The decision-making involved with family caregiving has the potential to strain family relationships. Siblings may disagree about care decisions, division of responsibilities, or how much each person financially contributes. Open communication is crucial in order to avoid conflict among family members.
Lack of Personal Time
When a caregiver devotes the majority of their time and energy to their loved one, their own needs often go by the wayside. It’s not uncommon for caregivers to skip meals, sacrifice sleep, or put their hobbies on hold. If their responsibilities increase, they may disconnect from family and friends, which has the potential to cause extreme social isolation.
Limited Knowledge
Caregivers are not healthcare professionals, nor do they typically receive any formal training for their duties. They often walk in blindly and feel completely unprepared to handle tasks like medication management, symptom monitoring, or the complex needs of someone with a memory-related condition.
Struggles to Balance it All
Many times, caregiving feels like a full-time job on top of the individual’s other obligations. They can feel pulled in multiple directions while juggling caregiving tasks, work, school, relationships, children, and responsibilities for their own household. This can leave family caregivers extremely overwhelmed and struggling to keep up with their daily lives.
Visiting Angels Supports Family Caregivers
If you’re navigating the journey of caring for your senior loved one, know that you’re not alone. Respite care services from Visiting Angels Northern Central Indiana can provide you with much-needed relief from your caregiving duties. Our compassionate caregivers are trained to assist seniors of all abilities with activities like meal preparation, medication reminders, transportation, personal care, and much more.
Whether you could use support on a temporary or ongoing basis, we’ll work with you to create a care plan that fits your family’s exact circumstances.
Let us help lighten your load! For more information about our non-medical home care services or to schedule a free initial consultation, simply fill out our contact form or call us at 765-670-6260.