Senior Health Update

There’s Help for Caregiver Stress

There is little doubt that the stress of chronic caregiving for a spouse or family member has significant effects on one’s health.  Some signs of caregiver stress are:

• Feeling overwhelmed, lonely, guilty, sad or constantly worried
• Feeling fatigued most of the time
• Becoming easily irritated or angered
• Lack of interest in activities you previously enjoyed
• Significant change in weight or sleep habits
• Frequent headaches, neck or low back pain
• Abuse of alcohol or drugs

You can help reduce your stress as a caregiver:

• Identify what you can and cannot change. You may not be able to alter the way somebody else behaves but you can change how you react to it.
• Try to lighten your load by learning about local caregiving resources such as meal delivery, home healthcare services (nursing, physical therapy), non-medical assistance (housekeeping, cooking, companionship) or home-modification changes that make it easier for patients to bathe, use the toilet or move around.
• Don’t hesitate to ask for and to accept assistance from friends and family.

–Source:  The American Institute of Stress