Family caregivers who find themselves suddenly thrust in the role without feeling they’ve been given a choice can sometimes resent the job. In fact, resentment can even build in caregivers who did choose to become caregivers but who now feel stuck. Having these feelings doesn’t make you a bad person and it doesn’t mean you don’t care about the older adult you’re caring for. The feelings are quite normal. They are often brought on by the stress of the situation. There are ways you can manage your negative feelings. Below are some tips that may help.
Take a Closer Look at the Situation
Take some time to evaluate your caregiver responsibilities. Think about what it is that has caused these feelings to develop. In some cases, you may feel overwhelmed when you didn’t before because the senior’s care needs have changed and are now requiring more of your time. Or, perhaps you feel like there are others who should have stepped up but did not. Understanding where your feelings are coming from is a good first step in dealing with the problem.
Commit to Taking Care of Yourself
Before you can be responsible for the well being of someone else, you need to take care of yourself. It’s not uncommon for family caregivers to ignore their own health care needs. You may be skipping your regular medical appointments, eating unhealthy foods for convenience, or ignoring symptoms that you shouldn’t. Taking care of yourself means finding time to rest, eating a balanced diet, exercising, and going to the doctor and dentist. It also means managing your stress.
Look for and Accept Help
Often feelings of resentment come down to being overwhelmed by all there is to do. The time commitment may be too much for you. Ask family members and friends to spend some time with the older adult so that you can take a break. If someone isn’t able to take a shift, perhaps they could help with a smaller task. It can help to have a list of specific tasks you can ask others to do, like making a meal for you and the senior, going grocery shopping, or running to the pharmacy. Even these small tasks can help free up some of your time. Another way to make some time for yourself is by contacting a home care agency. Home care providers can be hired to spend time with your aging relative while you do other things. Home care can even be there overnight.
Sources
https://dailycaring.com/5-ways-to-reduce-and-manage-caregiver-resentment/
http://sixtyandme.com/9-ways-to-reduce-caregiver-resentment-and-improve-health/
https://www.mayoclinic.org/healthy-lifestyle/stress-management/in-depth/caregiver-stress/art-20044784
If you or an aging loved one is considering caregivers in Greenwood Village, CO, please contact the caring staff at SYNERGY HomeCare Denver. Call today: (303) 756-9322.
