Aging Life Care Professionals™ Help You Avoid the Pitfalls of Caregiving
by Jullie Gray, MSW, LICSW, CMC — Aging Life Care Association™ Member and Fellow of the Leadership Academy
Caregiving for an aging loved one can be both rewarding and challenging. Unpaid family members who provide substantial caregiving support by managing medical appointments, medications, and daily care often experience emotional, physical, and financial strain. They can also be less productive at work because of the stress and fatigue of their care responsibilities.
Aging Life Care Professionals offer crucial support to help families avoid these common pitfalls. They assist caregivers in navigating local resources, finding respite options, and connecting with helpful community services. These professionals also help families set healthy boundaries, mediate conflicts, and facilitate open communication, supporting everyone through the transitions of aging.
Without taking time to set limits and find balance, caregivers can be at risk of burnout. Aging Life Care Professionals provide valuable resources and coaching to help caregivers recognize the signs of burnout and prevent it before it affects well-being.
If you’re feeling overwhelmed due to your caregiving responsibilities, consider taking our “Burnout Quiz” to see if your flame is about to fizzle. Remember, you don’t have to do this alone – Aging Life Care Professionals are here to help.
| True, this describes my situation most of the time. | False, this isn’t the case in my situation. | |
| 1. I feel emotionally drained because of my caregiving duties. | ||
| 2. I’ve developed a negative attitude. | ||
| 3. I feel stressed out more often than not. | ||
| 4. I have more medical problems as a result of being a caregiver. | ||
| 5. I feel more depressed and/or anxious than before I became a caregiver. | ||
| 6. I’m not successful as a caregiver. | ||
| 7. I have trouble sleeping at night. | ||
| 8. I feel all alone—no one helps me. | ||
| 9. I have trouble making time for myself and taking a break. | ||
| 10. I feel trapped in my caregiver role. | ||
| 11. I feel hopeless and as if there is no help for my situation. | ||
| 12. I’ve become angry & frustrated and sometimes take my anger & frustration out on the person I care for. |
The more items you answered “TRUE” to in the Burnout Quiz, the higher the likelihood that you are experiencing burnout! Even if you responded “TRUE” to just one question, you will benefit from additional help in your care-taking responsibilities.
To learn more about caregiver burnout and how to find the help you need to manage the stress, download this white paper from the Aging Life Care Association™.
More resources from the Aging Life Care Association
Caregiver Guide: Do’s and Don’ts for Engaging Loved Ones with Cognitive Decline by Lisa Kaufman, MS, CMC, CTRS, C-EOLD Caring for an older adult with cognitive difficulties, such as dementia or Alzheimer’s disease, requires patience, empathy, and a thoughtful approach to daily activities.
Six Steps to Living Well While Caring for Aging Parents by Linda Fodrini-Johnson, MA, MFT, CMC : A reminder may be in order that equilibrium is the key to living well as we divide our time among the needs of our parents, children, partners, jobs, and ourselves. The pull to care, or over care, often knocks that balance of its feet. Download a copy of this eBook and discover six steps that will help bring balance back to your life as a caregiver.
Planning for the Care You Need at Home by Phyllis Mensh Brostoff, CISW, CMC: This e-book covers some of the aspects of getting care when the time comes, how to get that help, and how your family can arrange for help when you might not be able to make some decisions for yourself. It shares stories to demonstrate and bring to life these issues.
An expert like an Aging Life Care Professional™ who has both compassion and years of experience can help you develop a workable self-care plan and find the support you need. Find your very own Aging Life Care™ expert at aginglifecare.org.
About the author: Jullie Gray, DSW, MSW, LICSW, CMC has over 30 years of experience in healthcare and aging and is a Fellow of the Leadership Academy of the Aging Life Care Association. She is also a past president of the National Academy of Certified Care Managers and the Aging Life Care Association.