Sharon Brooks, MHA, MSW, LCSW Geriatric Care Manager Metta Johnson & Associates

“You wake up almost as tired as when you fell asleep, 4 hours ago. After hitting the snooze button twice, you stumble to the kitchen and chug a quart of coffee-it doesn’t help. Your face in the mirror looks like the child you might have had with Voldemort. You can barely squeeze into your last resort ‘fat pants’. Getting your kids off to school feels like climbing Everest; driving to the job you once loved, an uphill slog to the salt mines. You dread interaction with people. It’s not that you aren’t a caring, compassionate, person its just that you hate everyone.”

http://www.oprah.com/spirit/What-to-Do-When-YoureBurned-Out-Consequences-of-Stress

This workshop is designed to help recognize, alleviate and prevent “burnout” while providing care for an elder person. Learn how you personally experience signs and symptoms of burnout and what you can do to recognize and alleviate caregiver burnout. Workshop goals are to:   



Understand your experience of burnout Recognize when you are in a burnout phase “Undo” burnout Prevent burnout

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43.5 million adult family caregivers care for someone 50+ years old and 14.9 million care for someone who has dementia

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Unpaid family caregivers is the largest source of long-term care services in the US

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Average age is 48.0, caring for 50+ most between 50-64 years

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Average duration of caregiver’s role is 4.6 years

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1:6 work full or part time

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70 % suffer work-related difficulties due to dual roles

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Miss average of 6.6 workdays/year

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Reduce work productivity by 18.5%

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65+ population will more than double between 2000 and 2030, increasing to 71.5 million from 35.1mllion in 2000

Alzheimer’s association https://www.caregiver.org/selected-caregiver-statistics

 Anxiety,

depression, irritability  Tired and run down  Difficulty sleeping  Overreacting to minor things  New, worsening health problems  Difficulty concentrating  Increasing resentfulness  Drinking, smoking or eating more  Cutting back on leisure activities http://www.helpguide.org/elder/caregiver_stress_burnout.htm

 Decreased energy  Withdrawal from friends and family  Catch every cold or flu that’s going around  Exhausted, even after sleep or break-

changes in sleep patterns  Neglecting own needs (too busy or don’t care)  Life revolves around caregiving role-little satisfaction  Trouble relaxing even when help is available  Increasing impatience and irritation with the person you are caring for  Helpless and hopeless  Excessive use of alcohol and/or sleep meds

 Role

confusion  Unrealistic expectations  Lack of control***  Unreasonable demands  Other factors

http://www.oprah.com/spirit/What-to-Do-When-Youre-Burned-Out-Consequences-of-Stress

1. 2. 3. 4. 5. 6. 7. 8. 9. 10. 11. 12.

Compulsion to prove oneself Working harder Neglecting needs Conflict displacement Values revision Denial of emerging problems Withdrawal Obvious behavioral changes Depersonalization-apathy, negative attitude Inner emptiness Depression Physical and Burnout syndrome emotional

http://www.helpguide.org/elder/caregiver_stress_burnout.htm

exhaustion-invest more energy to get it all done

Give yourself a break!  

What do you do for self-care?

How do you make time for YOU?

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Say “yes” when someone offers to help

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Speak up- talk, ask friends and family

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Delegate-divide tasks such as medical responsibilities, finances and bills, groceries and errands

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Set up a regular check-in: ask a family member, friend, or volunteer (church or synagogue) to call you on a scheduled basis.

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Relinquish some control-do not micromanage, give orders or do things only your way

Practice acceptance can you control? The way you choose to react to problems.  Try to avoid feeling sorry for yourself  Silver lining – what is positive about caregiving?  Share your feelings (friend, therapist, support group)  Avoid tunnel vision – be sure you have other areas of life that are rewarding  What

Sleep, eat, exercisethe ‘basics’

 Talk

about it  Realistic goals  Be real  Know your limits-do a reality check  Accept your feelings • negative feelings=normal  Connect

discord

with values-engagement ,not

Internal resources: • • • • •

Active coping strategies- problem focused Positive evaluation- situation and self Rational attitude Involvement Intrinsic motivation

External resources: • Social support • Time management