Taking care of someone you love can be rewarding, but it also can be very hard. When people care for a family member who is sick or getting older, they may feel tired, stressed, easily frustrated or overwhelmed. This is called caregiver strain. Unfortunately, many people feel alone, don’t know where to turn for help or wait until they are in crisis to look for help.
“Caregiver strain occurs when informal caregivers have increased stress from financial, physical, social, and time demands of caregiving,” explained Julie George, registered nurse and community liaison with Prisma Health Home Health, Hospice and Palliative Care. Many people take care of family members such as a parent, grandparent or spouse. But over the course of time, this extra job can become harder and more time-consuming. “The stress of caregiving often increases over time, especially when trying to maintain a full-time job while caring for aging family members,” George said. “In that situation, caregiver strain just gets worse as the weeks go by,” George added. In addition, studies show that caregiver strain increases the risk of death, due to the stress on the brain and body.
It can feel lonely to care for someone every day, with no end in sight. That’s why it’s important to reach out for help early. “There are different ways to find relief from the strain of caregiving, depending on the situation. For many people, their biggest need sometimes is just to feel heard and know they aren’t alone,” George said. In this way, support groups can be a great way to connect with others. “At our Caregiver Coffee and Conversation meetings, each of us can learn from the experiences of others and maybe find solace in the fact that someone else is dealing with the same thing. Sometimes we can find a different way to handle a situation to make it a bit easier,” George explained.
When people do ask for help, they often are surprised to learn how many services are available. George refers families to local Offices on Aging in Blount, Monroe and Loudon counties. These agencies help with things such as transportation, home meals and even building ramps. “When families call for help, they often are not aware of the many free resources we have access to in our area. They may be calling about transportation issues, for care in the home, or something else, but we try to find them the help they need and make them aware of all the offerings available.”
There also is help for families who need more care, such as in-home support or assisted living. George works with them to understand how to get started and where to look for programs that can help cover costs. “We always encourage our veterans and their families to check in with the local VA to see if they meet criteria for help from the VA,” George added.
Caregivers can avoid some of the stress by asking for help early, before burnout occurs. “Don’t wait for a crisis to find out what help is available,” George said. “As soon as we are faced with what may be a long time of caregiving, reach out and ask for support. There are those of us that have been through this, as I have both professionally and personally, and we are glad to listen and help where we can,” she added.
If you are caring for a loved one and feel overwhelmed or unsure of where to start, help is available. To learn more about Prisma Health’s caregiver support services or local caregiver resources, call 865-977-5744. For more information about Caregiver Coffee and Conversation meeting times, visit blountmemorial.org.
