If you are feeling somewhat overwhelmed in your role as a caregiver, take heart; you’re in good company. Providing care for a senior loved one is probably one of the more complex roles we can hold: highly fulfilling on the one hand, while at the same time discouraging and ever-evolving, often leading to feelings of doubt about whether we are up to the challenge and providing the best possible care.
It’s why a lot of family caregivers battle against some or all of these types of feelings:
- Guilt: You may feel as if you are not doing as much as you should to assist your parent, that you’re self-centered for wanting time away to yourself, or that you’re ill-prepared to provide the assistance your senior loved one needs.
- Helplessness: There are some circumstances when you simply cannot solve the problems your parent is going through.
- Anger or frustration: This can be directed at yourself, other members of the family who seem as though they’re not doing their fair share, and even at your older loved one for causing you to be in this situation.
- Resentment: Particularly typical when caring for someone who hurt or betrayed you in the past, it’s easy for those feelings to resurface when that individual is now in your care.
- Hopelessness: When a senior faces a challenging diagnosis, for example, a chronic or terminal condition, feelings of hopelessness can settle in, which could lead to despondency or depression.
Acknowledging these feelings, and accepting that they are completely normal, is an excellent starting point. These tips can also help:
- Share how you feel. Find a reliable friend, family member, or professional counselor to vent to, someone who can provide an alternative perspective and help you to adjust your thinking to a more positive slant.
- Think about the advice you’d offer a friend. Sometimes, stepping out of your situation and picturing how you would react to somebody else dealing with these feelings could offer invaluable insight. Provide the same encouragement you’d offer to another to yourself.
- Find a care partner. Working together with a professional care provider, like Generations at Home, enables you to achieve a healthy life balance – an element that is vital to every caregiver.
Reach out to our trained, experienced, and compassionate care team by calling 727-940-3414 and let us walk alongside you with the high quality, personalized care services your loved one deserves – permitting you to take much-needed time for self-care. We are always available to answer any questions you have, to provide helpful resources specific to the challenges you’re facing, and also to provide a complimentary in-home consultation to share more about how we can help.
