| When providing care to aging or disabled parents, | | | | vacation getaway for the weekend with your own |
| many caregivers ignore the most important person | | | | family, remember you should not feel guilty for putting |
| involved in the caregiving process. "Who?" - you may | | | | your own wants and needs first. |
| ask? The answer might surprise you: The Caregiver. | | | | The second thing to remember as a caregiver is |
| Many times caregivers get so wrapped up in attending | | | | never hesitate or feel embarrassed to ask for help. If |
| to parent's needs, trying to fit quality time with their | | | | you're feeling overwhelmed, ask a sibling or another |
| own family into their schedule, and oftentimes | | | | family member for assistance. You may also consider |
| attempting to balance a career, they forget or simply | | | | adult day care, or respite care to provide you some |
| neglect to take some time for their own personal | | | | relief. |
| needs. | | | | Even if you just need a day away from your role as |
| As a caregiver, the results of not allocating personal | | | | caregiver, don't let your guilty conscience persuade |
| time can easily lead to intense emotions such as | | | | you otherwise. It would be better to enjoy a day of |
| stress, anxiety, frustration, guilt, and feeling extremely | | | | rest and relaxation to rejuvenate your mind, body, and |
| overwhelmed. Many caregivers fail to realize that | | | | soul before letting yourself fall into the ruts of burnout. |
| these emotions and feelings could lead to caregiver | | | | There are proven and effective methods to combat |
| burnout. | | | | and prevent caregiver burnout. These techniques are |
| If you have just taken the reins as a caregiver to your | | | | easy and simple daily activities. Anyone can practice |
| parent, or perhaps you have been serving in the role | | | | these burnout-relieving techniques, whether it's taking |
| for years, you may have never heard of the term | | | | an early morning jog or writing in a journal before bed. |
| "caregiver burnout" or would even recognize the early | | | | You will find yourself amazed at how taking less than |
| warning signs. And you may not be aware that | | | | an hour a day can alleviate the stress and anxiety that |
| caregivers have an increased risk for depression, | | | | comes along with providing care to an aging or |
| diabetes, heart disease, and other health problems. | | | | disabled parent, especially those with rapidly |
| Caregiver burnout is the unpleasant side effects many | | | | deteriorating health or suffering from the |
| adult children have to cope with when providing care | | | | heart-wrenching effects of Alzheimer's disease. |
| to their aging or disabled parents. The signs and | | | | In addition of ways to prevent caregiver burnout, there |
| symptoms of caregiver burnout may display | | | | are also many helpful resources available to guide you |
| themselves physically, mentally, and emotionally. | | | | through the confusing emotions and physically |
| The most important thing to remember as a caregiver, | | | | exhausting situations you may find yourself in as a |
| and to avoid burnout, is to make some time for | | | | caregiver. If you feel you may already be experiencing |
| yourself. Whether it is treating yourself to a shopping | | | | burnout, talk to someone, whether it's your spouse, |
| trip, preparing your favorite meal, or going on a | | | | friend, or physician. |