Burnout vs. Compassion Fatigue
While compassion fatigue can show up in family caregivers, it is also common in professional caregivers, according to Brenda Ling, CSW-PIP, an oncology clinical social worker at Avera Cancer Institute in Sioux Falls.
Professional caregivers can have an acute stress reaction to taking care of other people with difficult illnesses.
Burnout, on the other hand, happens when caregivers experience extreme emotional exhaustion.
“With burnout, you just can't find the empathy you need for that person, and you can't imagine continuing to provide care,” said Ling. “You feel like no effort on your part is going to make a difference.”
How to Manage Caregiver Stress
What can be done to handle caregiver stress and prevent burnout?
“A good place to start is always your primary care physician,” said Mollie Sanchez, CSW, community patient care coordinator with Avera@Home. “They can connect you to coordinated care, social work or whatever resources are right for you.”
Share the Caregiving Workload
For families in a caregiving role, Ling recommended looking for tangible help — someone who can come in and give breaks or share some of your caregiving duties.
You could share responsibilities with a family member or talk with your provider about hiring a personal care aide or home health care worker so that you are not always in the caregiver role.
Caregiver Resources at Avera
Set Caregiving Boundaries
Sanchez stressed the importance of setting firm boundaries to avoid burnout.
Boundaries can look like:
- Not answering your phone after a certain time
- Limiting updates about the loved one to a single message at the end of the day
- Taking a 30-minute break every afternoon, no matter what
- Designating certain days or hours for personal time
- Delegating a specific task like bathing to another person
Talk to Others: Caregiver Support Groups and Therapy
Talking to someone you trust can take a lot of power out of any pent-up feelings you might have and give you a logical perspective, according to Ling.
Options for support include:
- A therapist — someone you’ve met through behavioral health therapy, physical therapy, occupational therapy or speech therapy
- A social worker
- Support groups — illness-specific groups may be available virtually or in person
- Faith-based groups
Self-Care for Caregivers
At-home self-care activities to consider:
- Taking a walk to recharge
- Listening to your favorite music
- Journaling or reading a book
- Pampering yourself with a skincare face mask or other comfort item
Mindfulness (being fully present in the moment) is another helpful practice that calms the nervous system and quiets intense emotions. Mindfulness apps on your phone or computer make it easy to access relief from anywhere.
Self-care can even mean doing nothing — having nowhere you’re scheduled to be and no one who needs you.
Maintain Your Own Routine Outside of Caregiving
It’s important for you to take care of your own body and mindset while caregiving, including:
- Maintaining your own nutrition and fitness routines
- Doing small things for yourself like taking daily showers
- Taking frequent breaks and prioritizing rest
Hospice Resources for Caregivers
Hospice can be an underutilized resource, and most people can get hospice support earlier than they do, according to Ling. Your provider can help explain what criteria must be met to qualify for hospice services.
Avera@Home home health and hospice services are available across Avera’s footprint.
Why Caregivers Delay Seeking Help
Caregivers might hesitate to ask for help because they have past experiences that hold them back or their loved ones are resistant to receiving care from new people.
Others might feel guilty, ashamed or like a failure if they can’t manage caregiving by themselves.
“No one person can be everything to another person,” said Enfield. “Give yourself some grace as a caregiver.”
Leaning on others is not only healthy and normal, but it gives you the support you need to show up best for your loved one.
The Honor of Caregiving
Despite the potential hardships and strain, caregiving can be very rewarding, according to Ling.
“To be a companion to someone in their time of need is an honor,” Ling said. “You might have some really beautiful moments of connection that others don’t get to see.”
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