As a caregiver, you are likely encountering challenges you’ve never dealt with before. It’s a whole new world. Even your relationship with the older adult may have changed, making you in charge of providing care to the senior instead of them taking care of you as they once did. On top of all that, you might have so much to do that you can barely keep up. The good news is that no matter how difficult you may sometimes find being a caregiver, you can overcome any challenge that comes your way. Below are some common challenges that caregivers encounter and what you can do to get by them.

#1: Feeling Overworked

Family caregivers often feel their time is stretched paper-thin. Many work full-time jobs are raising children, while also spending several hours each week on caregiver duties. That can leave you feeling overworked and utterly exhausted.

The best way to overcome this challenge is for caregivers to get help. Don’t be afraid to ask friends, family members, and even neighbors if they might be willing to take on a task. For example, a neighbor might be willing to stop over at lunchtime to make certain your aging relative eats. This can mean not having to give up your lunch hour to make a trip to the senior’s home, leaving you no time to take a break and eat lunch yourself. If you cannot find anyone to help, consider contacting a home care agency to hire assistance.

#2: Losing Social Connections

Being a caregiver can sometimes leave you feeling alone. You may not have time to keep up with friends, which can cause friendships to deteriorate.

If you’re feeling like it’s been a long time since you’ve spent time with friends, make time each day to call a friend, connect through social media, or even have a quick cup of coffee.

#3: Difficult Emotions

Caregivers often find themselves with all kinds of difficult emotions associated with their new role. It’s difficult to watch a person you care about deteriorate. This can be especially true when the older adult has a progressive disease, like Lou Gehrig’s disease or Alzheimer’s disease. You may also be mourning the loss of your normal relationship with the older adult.

There are a couple of ways to deal with tough caregiver emotions. If you believe you may be depressed, see your doctor. Depression can be treated with medications, counseling, or a combination of the two. Caregiver support groups are another helpful way to deal with the emotional impact of caregiving. A caregiver support group is a safe place to talk about how you are feeling with others who are familiar with what it’s like to be a caregiver.

If you or an aging loved-one are considering hiring Elderly Care in Lafayette, CA, call the caring staff at Aviva In-Home Care.
Call today: (415) 795-2203

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Evan Loevner

CEO at Aviva In-Home Care

As a former hospital administrator, I launched Aviva with the goal of having a more focused, direct impact on the delivery of care than I could ever accomplish within a hospital setting. For me, the joy of running an organization like Aviva In-Home Care is having the ability to positively improve the lives of individuals needing customized care. As a passionate Bay Area resident, I know that many local seniors can benefit from new approaches to in-home care, that will bring them more connection to the community, and provide families with a greater sense of comfort that their loved one is indeed matched with an ideal caregiver.

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