Caregiver Stress Archives - Caring Companions Of Atlanta

Feb 16 2021

Trouble Finding a Caregiver?

Join the club!

Take a look at some statistics from CNN Business:

The senior population is projected to reach 83.7 million by 2025 (twenty percent of the total US population)
The US will need to hire 2.3 million new health care workers by 2025 in order to adequately take care of its aging population
The largest number of new job openings — about 423,200 — will be for home health aides

Layer on the above that pay rates for caregivers are low (which affects the pipeline of new caregivers entering the marketplace) and you can see a big problem ahead.

A good friend of mine, Cindi Gatton Principal of Pathfinder Patient Advocacy Group http://www.pathfinderpatientadvocacy.com/ penned a BLOG article that underscores the caregiver crisis. A link to her article is below:

The Caregiving Crisis

As the owner of a home care company we run into endless inquiries by families looking for a caregiver 10-20 hours a week. They are not yet ready for full time care but need some help. Sadly, as the caregiver shortage intensifies, getting such help is very, very difficult. And if they do find an agency willing to give it a try, inevitably, there will be caregiver turnover. Who wants to work 10-20 hours a week when there are endless 40+ hour jobs available?! Caregivers are always in the hunt for more hours. They too need to put food on the table.

For those in the hunt for care, brace for a couple of changes. Look for more home care companies to required more hours-a-week and longer shifts and also be prepared to pay more as demand goes up. Supply and demand in play. And care giving is not an easy job.

To all those caregivers out there that see what they do as a calling, recognize your value to those you help and keep fighting the good fight. We appreciate all you do!

Adam

Nov 30 2017

How Can You Deal with Constantly Worrying about Your Aging Family Member?

As a family caregiver, it’s not feasible to simply tell yourself not to worry about your senior family member. What you can do, however, is to accept the worry for what it is, let it go, and come up with solutions that will actually help.

Elder Care in Decatur GA: Caregiver Worry

Examine Your Worries Closely

Most of the time when you are worried about something, you’re more likely to try to ignore the concern and not think about it. But when you tell yourself not to think about something, that becomes one of your most prevalent thoughts. Instead, try taking that worry and really looking at it closely. Figure out what is causing this worry and why it’s such a big concern for you. Don’t let it go for a long time.

Stop Berating Yourself for Being Worried

Giving up a big worry is really difficult to do. If you keep telling yourself to stop and that you really shouldn’t be worried, you’re going to feel guilty every time that you run into that worry again. Since you’re trying to resolve this concern, beating yourself up over it is not going to help. Resolve now to accept this worry and that you’re going to find a solution.

Find Ways to Let Go of Your Worries

There’s a funny truth about worry. When you look closely at it and stop trying to ignore it, you might find that it resolves on its own. Even if it doesn’t, there are things you can do that will help. The next time that you encounter this worry, remind yourself that a solution is in the works.

Do What You Can Now to Eliminate Causes of Worry

Sit down and make a list of what possible solutions can resolve the situation creating your concern. For example, if you’re worried because your senior still lives alone, brainstorm what could potentially make you feel less concerned. This might include having family members stopping by more often, hiring elderly care providers, or talking to your elderly family member about changing her living situation.

Worrying doesn’t do you any good, but you already know that. What it can do is show you where you need to take steps in order to keep your elderly family member as safe as possible.

If you or an aging family member are considering elder care in Decatur, GA, please contact the caring staff at Caring Companions of Atlanta 470-514-5954.

Nov 09 2017

Coping with Caregiver Challenges

Ask any family caregiver and they’ll probably agree that being a caregiver is one of the most rewarding, but also most challenging, things a person could ever do. On the days when things go well, you’ll go to bed at night feeling great about what you’re doing for your aging family member and being grateful for the time that you get to spend with them. But, the days that don’t go well can leave you feeling like the challenges are just too much. If you find yourself having difficulty coping with some of the common challenges of being a caregiver, here are some tips that we hope will help.

Use Time Management Skills

Depending on your profession, you probably use time management skills in your work life. Try transferring some of those skills to your caregiver duties, too. Make a “to do” list of items you need to get done. Prioritize them and complete the most pressing ones first. Remind yourself that it’s okay to let the smaller stuff slide and get to it another day. If there are some things you simply cannot find time for, ask for help. Other family members or friends may be able to step in. If there is no one else available to help, consider hiring a home care provider who can come to the older adult’s home and help. You may also find it useful to be upfront with the senior about what you can and cannot do so that you are not expected to do everything.

Find Time to Focus on the Positive

One of the most difficult things about being a caregiver can be seeing someone you love suffering. This may be especially true if the person is your parent. You’re used to them taking care of you, not the other way around. If you’re struggling with these feelings, taking some time to step away from the situation can help. Make time to do something positive that makes you feel good. It can help to schedule an activity with your parent that you both enjoy, but asking someone else to step in and be the caregiver that day so that you can just spend quality time.

Stay in Touch with Friends

Being a caregiver can take up so much of your time that it’s hard to stay in touch with your friends and other family members. But, now is when you need them the most. Even if you can’t spend as much time with them as you used to, don’t allow yourself to lose touch. Use social media platforms to send quick notes, give updates, and ask about their lives. Make some time now and then to grab a cup of coffee, have lunch, or make a phone call.

Though caregiver duties can be time-consuming and stressful, you can take care of your loved one while also living your own life. Remember that you are only human and can’t be expected to do everything. Don’t be afraid to ask for help or to hire help if needed.

If you or an aging family member are considering elderly care in Brookhaven, GA, please contact the caring staff at Caring Companions of Atlanta 470-514-5954.

Sources
http://www.arthritis.org/living-with-arthritis/life-stages/caregiving/caregiving-arthritis.php
https://www.aarp.org/relationships/caregiving-resource-center/info-08-2010/gs_caregiving_challenges.html
https://www.aarp.org/caregiving/basics/info-2017/new-caregivers-rules.html