Being a caregiver is an incredibly unselfish path, and although it is undeniably rewarding, it also comes with its fair share of challenges. Understanding caregiver challenges is the first step toward finding solutions that can help ease the strain. In this article, we’ll address the common difficulties faced in caregiving and practical ways to ease the stress, whether you’re a caregiver yourself or someone who wants to support them.
Please note that in this specific article, we are referencing caregivers who are family members, for example, husbands, wives, sons, daughters, or siblings of older individuals who require support.
The Unseen Challenges of Being an Elderly Caregiver
Being a senior caregiver presents its own set of challenges that are often overlooked. These challenges can add significant stress and strain to an already demanding role. Here’s a closer look at some of the unseen difficulties that elderly caregivers often face:
Social Isolation
In the 2022 National Carer Survey, 66% of carers in QLD indicated feelings of social isolation or loneliness. This statistic is unsurprising, as caring for a loved one can reduce the time caregivers have to spend with their friends and family. The demands of their duties can consume much of their time and energy, leaving little time for socialising or maintaining meaningful relationships. This can lead to increased feelings of social isolation and loneliness.
Lack of Sleep
One of the key challenges of being a caregiver is not getting enough sleep. This is because, as you age, your circadian clock has shifted, causing changes in sleep patterns and frequent wakeups during the night. Those older individuals with dementia can also experience interrupted sleep. Both factors can make it more challenging for caregivers to get a good night’s rest as they consistently wake up to tend to their loved ones’ needs.
Inadequate Support
Feeling unsupported can be one of the most frustrating challenges of being a caregiver. Many caregivers can feel unsupported as they struggle to receive help from other family members or resources like community programs and government initiatives. Without adequate help, caregivers may struggle to manage their responsibilities, potentially leading to higher stress levels and burnout.
Balancing Priorities
Juggling caregiving with other responsibilities, such as those at work and home, is a balancing act that caregivers constantly navigate. Caregivers often tend to take on multiple roles in their lives, which leads them to experience higher levels of stress and physical and emotional exhaustion as they try to manage the needs and demands of everyone around them.
Financial Pressure
One of the key challenges of being a caregiver is the financial strain involved. It shouldn’t come as a surprise that caregivers experience feelings of financial stress in their role. This is because, most of the time, they are unpaid and often have to reduce their paid working hours or leave their jobs entirely.
In fact, one in two Queenslanders responding to the 2022 National Carer Survey stated they experienced financial stress in their roles. The effect of financial strain can have a larger impact on the caregiver’s family, increasing both financial strain and overall stress levels within the home.
Mental & Physical Strain
The cumulative effects of financial strain, along with the juggling of multiple responsibilities and the emotional toll of caregiving, can manifest in several ways, impacting both the mental and physical health of the caregiver. Prolonged stress and tiredness can lead to various mental health challenges, such as anxiety, not to mention emotional distress and physical fatigue.
Share the Care! — How To Support Caregivers
In most cases, providing support to caregivers going through a challenging time should be fairly intuitive. Most of the time, caregivers feel overwhelmed and just want to feel supported by those around them. Some simple, practical things you can do to take a weight off their shoulders include:
- Listening: Sometimes, just having someone to talk to can make a huge difference. By lending an ear, you provide a safe space for them to unload their worries and feel understood, which can be incredibly validating.
- Reaching out: Check in regularly to offer emotional support and let them know you’re there for them. Whether through phone calls, text messages, or personal visits, staying in touch shows that you care and that they aren’t alone.
- Offering them a break: Help out by taking over caregiving duties for a few hours or arranging for someone else to do so. Giving them a break can help prevent burnout and ensure they have time to recharge.
- Helping them with day-to-day tasks: Assist with everyday chores like cooking lunch or dinner, grocery shopping, or doing household chores such as cleaning or mowing the lawn to lighten their load. These kinds of tasks may seem small to you, but they make the biggest difference.
How To Manage Caregiving Responsibilities
Balancing your own well-being while managing the responsibilities of caring for an elderly loved one is a challenging yet often overlooked aspect of caregiving. Many caregivers are so focused on their loved one’s needs that they neglect their own health, which can lead to burnout and personal health issues. Taking care of yourself is essential, as it not only supports your well-being but also enhances your ability to provide quality care. We’ve come up with practical strategies that can help you manage your well-being while caring for your loved one.
Don’t Be Afraid to Ask for Help!
If you’re a caregiver looking after a spouse, parent or sibling, it’s important to know that you aren’t alone in the challenges you may be feeling or facing. Help is out there; you just need to reach out and not be afraid to ask for support when you need it! This also means accepting help when it’s offered.
Sometimes, it may not be obvious that you’re struggling, so don’t hesitate to let others know what you’re going through. Reaching out for help is not a sign of weakness, and talking to others will ultimately help them help you.
Take Care of Yourself!
Similar to when flight attendants tell passengers on aeroplanes that in case of emergency, “always put your oxygen mask on first before helping others”, caregivers should remember to take care of themselves before tending to others.
Just like you need to be in a good place to help others during an emergency, looking after your own health and well-being ensures that you’re in the best shape to provide the support your loved one needs. To be the best caregiver you can be, make it a priority to eat well, rest, exercise regularly, and take time for activities that bring you joy. Remember—self-care isn’t selfish.
Consider a Retirement Village
Sometimes, the best way to care for someone and yourself is to explore alternative living options. Of course, it is also up to them as to whether they would be comfortable with such a change. However, most retirement villages will provide your loved one (and you) with a higher level of care and specialised support than you alone can provide. This ensures they receive the appropriate care and takes the weight of caregiving responsibilities off your shoulders, giving you and your loved one the opportunity to spend more quality time together.
For example, at The Village Retirement Group, residents can access a range of homecare services via our dedicated Home Care provider, including:
- Personal care services
- Meal preparation
- Domestic assistance services
- Nursing services
- In-home respite care
- Companionship & social support services
- Access to a range of allied health professionals, including Occupational Therapists & Physiotherapists
At The Village, it’s our goal to ensure residents feel comfortable and truly at home in their new space. At The Village, we take pride in supporting both residents and their families by relieving the caregiving burden and providing residents with an environment where they can thrive with other like-minded individuals.
We recommend that if you’re considering a move to a retirement village, you have an open and honest discussion with your loved one to assess if they are comfortable with the idea. If you would like more information on how to know if your parents are ready for retirement living, check out our article on How to Know When Your Parents Are Ready for Retirement.
