Home » Partners & Parents » Elderly Caregiving » Caregiver Feelings

Caregiver Feelings

© Marci Stocks

First, I would like to thank you for visiting this specific article. It is so important for caregivers to become aware that caregivers may have feelings due to their difficult role and to know that these feels are quite normal. If you haven't already read the previous article, Caregiver Roles, please do as this article is the "aftermath" of these roles.

Caregivers do so much for their loved ones. Some of the tasks include, bathing, dressing, cleaning, shopping, the list goes on. Caregiversrs come in all ages, male or female, all income levels. Some caregivers are automatically put in the caregiver role. This can be seen in the child who is now caring for their parent.

Below, I have listed 10 feelings common to caregivers. All of these are normal. Often, caregivers will not speak out out of embarrassment for having these feelings. But, it is important for us to know these feelings and to ensure others that it is a normal part of caregiving.

1. Helplessness

Caregivers may feel helpless because of their loved one's condition. They cannot change the illness or they cannot make things better. Caregivers often give all they have to help those they love, but yet they still may feel that what they are doing is not enough.

It is important for caregivers to realize that by doing the best they can is indeed helping their loved ones. They cannot possibly change the events that have taken place, but can learn to work with them.

2. Anger

Caregivers may feel anger, but it is not necessarily directed at their loved one. Instead, it is at the situation that they are now put in. This is very common and if we look at all that caregivers have to go through, it is quite understandable that anger is a natural feeling for a Caregiver. Caregivers often have to give up some of their lives in order to care for their loved ones. This can be seen in the child who is now caring for a parent. These caregivers have their own families and now they have to split the time between their family and their parent. I have seen caregivers who have had to quit their jobs in order to care for their loved ones.

3. Denial

Caregivers may be in denial about their current role. "I will only have to care for mom for a few days" or "Dad's illness will go away soon." Also, they may be in denial about their feelings in fear of what others may think.

The copyright of the article Caregiver Feelings in Elderly Caregiving is owned by . Permission to republish Caregiver Feelings in print or online must be granted by the author in writing.