Family Caregiver Month
Gateway House wants to recognize all those who are providing at-home-care to a family member or friend. We understand part of what that commitment means. You may ask What is family caregiving?
According to the website dedicated to family caregivers: “Family caregiving is the act of providing at-home care for a relative, friend, or other loved one with a physical or mental health problem.” (link here)
We at Gateway House are able to come alongside your family if this becomes too much to manage on your own. We work with Hospice to provide a safe, comfortable place for those last weeks or up to the last three months. Sometimes, it becomes too much to care for someone 24 hours a day. We have staff that are here and awake to give care, offer comforting companionship and to sit by the bedside of someone who is failing.
That website referenced above also discusses the possibility of caregiver burnout. If you hadn’t heard of this, this is how they describe it:
“While caring for a loved one can be very rewarding, it also involves many stressors. It can be particularly disheartening if you feel that you’re in over your head, or if, despite your best efforts, their condition is gradually deteriorating.”
These are common signs and symptoms of caregiver stress:
Anxiety, depression, irritability.
Feeling tired and run down.
Difficulty sleeping.Overreacting to minor nuisances.
New or worsening health problems.
Trouble concentrating.
Feeling increasingly resentful.
Drinking, smoking, or eating more.
Neglecting responsibilities.
Cutting back on leisure activities.
These are common signs and symptoms of caregiver burnout
You have much less energy than you once had.
It seems like you catch every cold or bout of flu that’s going around.
You’re constantly exhausted, even after sleeping or taking a break.
You neglect your own needs, either because you’re too busy or you don’t care anymore.
Your life revolves around caregiving, but it gives you little satisfaction.
You have trouble relaxing, even when help is available.
You’re increasingly impatient and irritable with the person you’re caring for.
You feel helpless and hopeless. (Link here)
Contact us if you have questions or if we can help you when your loved one is suffering from a terminal illness and you need support. If they are on Hospice care and a good fit for our home, we will do what we can to make a place for your loved one. If it turns out, we don’t have a room available or for some reason we aren’t the best place, we can offer suggestions and help connect you with support services to assist you.
As a caregiver, you are doing an important job, sometimes thankless. We wanted you to know, we appreciate the work you are doing! Take time to celebrate when and what you can. In a separate post, I will talk a bit about National Gratitude month. Believe it or not, there have been studies that show gratitude helps fight stress. Go ahead and read that article here.