Caregivers and credentials
Caregiver burnout
Caregiver burnout is a state of physical, emotional, and mental exhaustion that can come from long-term caregiving stress. Signs include constant tiredness, irritability, loneliness, poor sleep, low mood, and skipping your own health care. It can harm both the caregiver and the person receiving care.
Why it matters for your family
Burnout builds slowly, so many caregivers miss the signs. They may stop seeing friends, skip checkups, or feel resentful and guilty. The National Institute on Aging advises acting before you feel overwhelmed. Ask for specific help from family, join a support group, and use respite care, such as a paid aide or adult day program. A common mistake is thinking that asking for help means failing. A stressed caregiver may also become short-tempered with the person in care, which is a risk. Talk to your own doctor. The Area Agency on Aging can point to local help.
Source: nia.nih.gov
Read more: Caregiver Burnout - Recognizing and Coping with Signs of Caregiver Stress
Related terms
- Caregiver stressCaregiver stress is the physical and emotional strain that comes from caring for another person over time.
- Respite careRespite care is short-term care that gives a family caregiver a break.
- Family caregiverA family caregiver is a relative, partner, friend, or neighbor who gives unpaid help to someone with an illness, disability, or age-related needs.
- Adult day careAdult day care is a community program that gives adults supervised daytime care outside the home.
- Area Agency on Aging (AAA)An Area Agency on Aging is a public or private nonprofit agency that a state designates to meet the needs of older adults in a local area.
- Elder abuseElder abuse is harm or risk of harm to an older adult by someone in a position of trust, or by a stranger.
