Caregiving can take quite a toll on people who care for
family members.
According to statistics collected by the Caregiver Action Network:
·
More
than 65 million people, 29%
of the U.S. population, provide care for a chronically ill, disabled or aged
family member or friend during any given year and spend an average of 20 hours
per week providing care for their loved one.
·
Approximately 66% of family caregivers are
women. More than 37% have children or grandchildren under 18 years old living
with them.
·
14% of family caregivers care for a special needs child with an
estimated 16.8 million caring for
special needs children under 18 years old. 55% of these caregivers
are caring for their own children.
·
23% of
family caregivers caring for loved ones for 5 years or more report their health is fair or poor.
·
Nearly
three quarters (72%) of family caregivers report not going to the doctor as
often as they should and 55% say they skip doctor appointments for themselves.
·
63% of caregivers report having poor eating
habits than non-caregivers
and 58% indicate worse exercise habits than before caregiving responsibilities.
·
40% to 70% of family caregivers have clinically significant symptoms of
depression with approximately a
quarter to half of these caregivers meet the diagnostic criteria
for major depression.
·
More
than 1 in 10 (11%) of family caregivers report that caregiving has caused their
physical health to deteriorate.
·
Family
caregivers experiencing extreme stress have been shown to age prematurely. This
level of stress can take as much as 10 years off a family caregiver's life.
· 64% of
working parents caring for a special needs child believe that caregiving
responsibility has negatively impacted their work performance.
If you are a parent caring for a child who has
disabilities, be sure to recognize the signs of burnout. According to Kids Health from Nemours, “caregiver burnout is a true state of exhaustion, both physical and
emotional. It tends to happen when caregivers try to "do it all"
without getting the help or rest they need. Because caregivers tend to be on
autopilot, they're not usually quick to recognize burnout in themselves. Other
people might notice the symptoms first, which can include changes in appetite
and sleep patterns, withdrawal from social activities, increased anxiety, or
emotions that are either heightened (such as excessive crying or irritability)
or decreased (feeling empty or unconcerned). Take it seriously if someone you
trust notices any of these things in you.”
Teachers and therapists working with children with
special needs are disproportionately at risk for burnout compared to those in
other professions. One of the major causes of burnout is “compassion fatigue.”
The Compassion Fatigue Awareness Project and Dr. Charles Figley, Director of the
Tulane University Traumatology Clinic define compassion fatigue as " a
state experienced by those helping people or animals in distress; it is an
extreme state of tension and preoccupation with the suffering of those being
helped to the degree that it can create a secondary traumatic stress for the
helper ...
Caring too much
can hurt,” says Figley. “When caregivers focus on others without practicing
self-care, destructive behaviors can surface. Apathy, isolation, bottled up
emotions and substance abuse head a long list of symptoms associated with the
secondary traumatic stress disorder now labeled: Compassion Fatigue”
Despite these difficult realities, much can be done to prevent the
symptoms and negative long-term effects of compassion fatigue and burnout.
Whether you’re a parent or professional caregiver, it all starts with
self-care. Taking the time to nurture and replenish yourself is
critically important. Here are some suggestions from Kids Health from Nemours:
1. Take
breaks
2. Eat
right
3. Exercise
4. Stay
organized
5. Ask
for health
6. Find
a support group
7. Acknowledge
your feelings
8. Be
aware of the signs of burnout
And don’t forget to treat yourself well this Mother’s Day!
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