Caregivers
Understanding Caregivers
Taking care of others can be rewarding but stressful. Are you getting the support you need?
If you’re a caregiver for a parent, child, spouse or another adult with a disease or disability, you’re not alone. More than 60 million Americans provide full- or part-time unpaid care for family members with dementia, stroke, cancer, disabilities, mental illness and other special needs.
The Challenge of Caregiving
You stay busy with cooking, cleaning, laundry, toileting, bathing, medical care, running errands and driving to appointments.
In short, you’re a doctor, nurse, taxi driver, housekeeper and psychologist all rolled into one.
A tough job?
Being a caregiver can be a very positive experience that makes your life more fulfilling. It can also put a real strain on you. In addition to fulfillment, you may have feelings of anger, resentment, frustration, stress, exhaustion, failure, isolation or sadness.
Studies show that caregivers who are under a strain are more likely to have headaches, back problems, high blood pressure, high cholesterol and gain weight. It could compromise your immune system or even shorten your life. Caregivers may also battle stress, depression and substance use.
Steps for coping
You can take better care of others when you also take care of yourself, but you may find that’s the hardest thing to do. It’s important to:
Challenging circumstances
A variety of issues may put an extra strain on your situation. For example, caring for someone with dementia, a brain injury or at the end-of-life can be especially stressful.
Perhaps your relationship with the care recipient has always been difficult. You hoped this would be a time of healing, but now you only feel regret and discouragement.
Research shows that 40-70% of caregivers under strain show signs of depression that shouldn’t be ignored. Symptoms include:
- Sleep problems
- Sadness
- Forgetfulness
- Pain that won’t go away
- Fatigue
- Lack of interest in normal activities
How Pine Rest Can Help
Being a caregiver can impact your physical, mental and financial well-being. If you are feeling overwhelmed by stress, depression or difficult emotions, we can help.
Pine Rest’s highly trained clinicians provide professional services with compassion and understanding. Our network of outpatient clinics throughout Michigan and Iowa can help you adopt new strategies for staying physically, spiritually and mentally healthy.
Counseling/Outpatient Services. To schedule a new outpatient appointment, call 866.852.4001.
Finding a support group
Many organizations provide support groups online and in person for caregivers facing different situations, including:
Additional resources on caregiving*
*Please note: You are leaving the Pine Rest Website when you click on these links.
