CAREGIVER BURNOUT QUIZ
If you are the caregiver for a loved one, we want to start out by saying thank you for all the selflessness, compassion and love you show on a daily basis. We know it can be a lot to manage and can add stress to your daily life, no matter how capable or committed you are. We wanted to create this blog to check-in on you and make sure you are also taking care of yourself. Below is a quiz to see if you are getting close to or already experiencing what they call “Caregiver Burnout”.
What is Caregiver Burnout?
According to the Cleveland Clinic, it is a state of physical, emotional and mental exhaustion. It may be accompanied by a change in attitude, fatigue, stress, anxiety and depression.
Symptoms:
- Withdrawal from friends, family and other loved ones
- Loss of interest in activities previously enjoyed
- Feeling blue, irritable, hopeless and helpless
- Changes in appetite, weight or both
- Changes in sleep patterns
- Getting sick more often
- Feelings of wanting to hurt yourself or the person for whom you are caring
- Emotional and physical exhaustion
- Irritability
Causes:
Caregivers often are so busy caring for others that they tend to neglect their own emotional, physical and spiritual health. The demands on a caregiver’s body, mind and emotions can easily seem overwhelming, leading to fatigue, hopelessness and ultimately burnout.
Other factors that can lead to caregiver burnout include:
- Role confusion: Many people are confused when thrust into the role of caregiver. It can be difficult for a person to separate her role as caregiver from her role as spouse, lover, child, friend or another close relationship.
- Unrealistic expectations: Many caregivers expect their involvement to have a positive effect on the health and happiness of the patient. This may be unrealistic for patients suffering from a progressive disease, such as Parkinson’s or Alzheimer’s.
- Lack of control: Many caregivers become frustrated by a lack of money, resources and skills to effectively plan, manage and organize their loved one’s care.
- Unreasonable demands: Some caregivers place unreasonable burdens upon themselves, in part because they see providing care as their exclusive responsibility. Some family members such as siblings, adult children or the patient himself/herself may place unreasonable demands on the caregiver. They also may disregard their own responsibilities and place burdens on the person identified as primary caregiver.
- Other factors: Many caregivers cannot recognize when they are suffering burnout and eventually get to the point where they cannot function effectively. They may even become sick themselves.
QUIZ:
Score each item on a scale of 1-7
1 = Never
2 = Once or Twice
3 = Rarely
4 = Sometimes
5 = Often
6 = Usually
7 = Always
In caring for a loved one, how often do you have the following experiences:
- Feeling resentful
- Feeling trapped
- Being tired, not getting enough sleep
- Feeling weary
- Feeling troubled
- Feeling helpless
- Poor appetite or overeating
- Being physically exhausted
- Feeling disillusioned
- Feeling useless
- Being utterly drained of feeling
- Feeling burned out
- Being unhappy
- Feeling anxious
- Feeling rejected
Total Score:____
If your score is under 60, you’re in good shape. If your total score is 60 or above, the stress of taking care of your parents is beginning to take its toll. If it’s 90 or above, you are living with caregiver burnout. You are not alone! A study conducted by the National Alliance for Caregiving and AARP found that more than half of those who provide major care for parents (and one in four who provide any care) experience stress and strain. Prolonged stress can have serious physical and emotional consequences.
Source: https://assets.aarp.org/www.aarp.org_/articles/learn/sidebars/4-quiz.htm
How to manage that stress?
- Take care of your mental and physical health. Sleep normal hours, eat nutritious meals, get regular checkups, exercise. If you are suffering from Depression please see a doctor right away for additional support.
- Stay connected with your friends. As they say, laughter is the best medicine. It is good to have some time to just relax and decompress for a short period of time.
- Ask for help. Schedule assistance from other family members or friends so you can have time to focus on your own health.
- Community Services. Alba Court Residences will have an Adult Day Care Center where you can have your loved one stay with us during the day so you can focus on you and your other obligations and have your loved ones return home each night. We also have Respite Care where they can stay in our Assisted Living Facility for any amount of days you need. This way you can have a staycation and catch up on rest or attend an out of town event. Visit our services tab above to learn more about our affordable options to give you some time off.
- Support Groups. Find a local support group in your area.
- Hobby. Schedule time to do something you love. Reading, Painting, Walking, Movies, Dancing and more will help brighten your day.
- Schedule. Having an organized plan can help you feel like things are more manageable. Make sure you are setting realistic goals for yourself, pace yourself and set limits.
- Combat your negative feelings. Make sure you celebrate your accomplishments instead of emphasizing your shortcomings. If something is constantly upsetting you come up with some ideas to change it. If you are having disagreements with other family members, organize a family meeting to resolve it quickly so it doesn’t build up.
We appreciate everything you are doing to care for your loved one and we are here to help to any extent you need. Feel free to contact us on our website or call our Director of Marketing & Admissions Beverly Robinson at 386-847-3022.