Do Part-Time Caregivers Get Burnout Too?

Posted by Lisa C. DeLuca Oct 27, 2009

A person whose spouse, parent, child or other loved one is ill or incapacitated is a caregiver. It doesn't matter if the loved one lives with you or lives somewhere else. It doesn't matter how many hours are spend in actual caregiving. A caregiver is a caregiver. Why?

Take a look at some of the things caregivers deal with. When a loved one is sick, caregivers are filled with worry and concern. If it is a spouse who has taken ill, the caregiver's life will change dramatically too, and the caregiver has his or her own losses to deal with.

Caregivers have to adjust to their own emotional reactions to the loved ones' illness on their own. They must also help the loved ones deal with their emotions. When caregivers are feeling burned out or in need of a break, they can't confide in the loved one, like they could in the past. They have to deal with their difficulties on their own and they often feel guilty about their negative feelings (even though feeling negative about the situation is nothing to feel guilty about!)

If the patient is the parent or spouse, the caregiver has to get used to the idea that they no longer have the full support and care of that person. The caregiver becomes the one who is relied upon for certain things and the caregiver is not able to rely upon the other for certain things anymore. Over time, this trend will continue with more weight being placed on the caregiver's shoulders.

Caregiving takes time and that time adds up. Caregiving duties always must be dealt with first and so other things, like the caregiver's needs, take a back seat. Life becomes limited as certain activities are no longer doable by the loved one. One day blends into the next.

Caregiving is not just a set of tasks one does, it is a way of life. Those who feel that they are "only" part time caregivers may certainly be burned out and should start doing the things to protect themselves from burnout now. Having this as part of the routine now will be helpful when things get more worrisome and time consuming down the road.

Click on this link to find out how to protect yourself from caregiver burnout.

Click here if you are caring for elderly parents.

Click here if your loved one has dementia.