WHAT IS CAREGIVER BURNOUT?

Caregivers are inspiring people. Here at Rainbow Speech Pathology we are so often in absolute awe at the patience, compassion and resilience of the caregivers we work with.

We can see the love that you have for the person that you support, and it is what inspires us to keep doing what we do. Many caregivers will tell us that caring for their person is a special and rewarding experience. However, we cannot deny that we also know that these responsibilities can be overwhelming and exhausting for the caregivers we work with.

Fatigue is experienced by all carers, but when this stress and anxiety is prolonged, and the right support is not in place, it can become caregiver burnout – a state of complete physical, emotional and mental exhaustion.
Caregiver burnout is real and not something to be taken lightly.

What causes caregiver burnout?
Caregivers can be so used to attending to the needs of others’ that their own physical, mental and emotional health goes unmet.

Most caregivers will experience burnout as some point, so it is crucial to be aware of factors that put you at risk and seek support early to reduce the impact they have. 

Some of the factors that may cause caregiver burnout include:

• A change in roles: People may have to immediate take up the role of caregiving, something which may not have been familiar to them prior, or have a significant increase in the level of caregiving they have to provide.

• Limited resources: A lack of access to appropriate funding, services and resources to help in managing a loved one’s care can create more load for the caregiver and lead to burnout.

• Lack of progress: Many caregivers have hope that with their involvement their loved one will have improved outcomes. So, when a loved one is not making noticeable progress towards their goals, even with the support of the caregiver, it can be disheartening.

What are the symptoms of caregiver burnout?
Caregivers are incredibly selfless people, who prioritise the health and wellbeing of the person they are caring for over their own. So, it comes as no surprise that the stress of caregiving is often left unchecked, until it has taken a significant toll.

It is important to be clued into the signs of caregiver burnout. If you can detect the signs of caregiver burnout early, it gives you the best chance at having time to seek quality support and implement change to improve the situation.

Caregiver stress and burnout can include the following physical, behavioural, and emotional symptoms:

• Body aches and headaches 
• Feeling helpless and depressed
• Getting sick often
• Feeling tired most of the time
• Changes in appetite or weight
• Changes in your sleeping pattern
• Feeling irritable, angry or argumentative
• Lacking motivation
• Isolating from family and friends 

How to prevent caregiver burnout?

• Ask for help – Please do not do it alone. There is no shame in asking for help. If you can, utilise the existing support that you already have around you by asking friends and family for help. But this is not always enough. In addition to talking with your GP and/or Psychologist, there are many professional services dedicated to supporting caregivers, such as Carers Gateway which provides counselling, education and training. It may also be helpful to talk with your therapists and NDIS LAC to ensure that the NDIS plan for the person you care for is adequate. Supports in their NDIS plan may be able to be extended to include family support and counselling, a support worker to help the person increase their independence, and access to respite care.

• Take a break – A break will look different to each caregiver. It could be regular short breaks, like going for a walk, or taking the night off to go out for dinner. Sometimes more extended breaks through respite care are needed and that is okay too. The purpose of a break is to help you rest and unwind so do what feels best for you to reduce the strain of caregiving.

• Take care of yourself – Set aside some time to prioritise your own health. This could mean creating a sleeping, eating and exercise plan, or getting back into the hobbies you previously enjoyed – and do not feel guilty for doing this. Your happiness will impact the happiness of the person you care for. If you think you might have difficulty holding yourself accountable for looking after yourself, recruit a family member or friend to regularly check-in on your progress.

More information…

We will continue to be inspired by the wonderful caregivers we work with at Rainbow Speech Pathology – your patience, passion and reliance seems never ending. However, we encourage our caregivers to also prioritise their own health and wellbeing. You are important. If you are feeling overwhelmed and exhausted, please seek help.

If it is an emergency and you are concerned for your own or someone else’s safety, please call Triple Zero on 000.

If you are in need of crisis support contact a crisis line, such as one of the following:

• Lifeline (24/7) – 13 11 14
• Suicide Call Back Service (24/7) – 1300 659 467
• Beyond Blue (24/7) – 1300 224 636
• Kids Helpline (24/7, for youth 5-25) – 1800 55 1800
• MensLine (24/7) – 1300 78 99 78
• Griefline (6am-midnight) – 1300 845 745

Written by: Rhiannon Underhill, Speech Pathologist