Caregiving can be physically and emotionally demanding; however, with the right support received, you can enjoy an empowering, rewarding, and fulfilling journey ahead. Caregiving requires continuous learning. It is important to take the time to reflect on your own personal growth and development which makes you more confident in your ability to provide care and support to your loved one. Being equipped with the necessary skills and tools can also bring you a greater sense of purpose and meaning in your role as a caregiver.
Caregiver stress
Firstly, what is caregiver stress and are you affected by it?
Caregiver stress refers to a state of physical, emotional, and mental exhaustion. This can happen to any caregiver. It is okay to feel stressed while you are trying your best to fulfil your care recipient’s needs; however, too much stress is not healthy! Here are some signs of caregiver stress to look out for:
- Becoming easily irritated or angry
- Feeling overwhelmed or constantly worried
- Experiencing periods of high blood pressure
- Grinding your teeth at night
- Having difficulty sleeping
- Being forgetful
- Feeling heart palpitations or unusual heart rhythms (skipped beats)
- Having trouble concentrating
- Having frequent headaches, bodily pain, or other physical problems
How to cope with caregiver stress?
- Delegate your duties among family members
- Tap on the support of assistive devices
- Seek for financial assistance
- Attend trainings to gain relevant knowledge
Learn more about How to Manage Caregiver Stress here.
Caregiver burnout
Caregiver burnout is a state of emotional, mental, and physical exhaustion caused by the prolonged and overwhelming stress of caregiving. Caregivers may struggle to maintain a sense of purpose in working hard to provide care, which can lead to feelings of loneliness and being unappreciated, second-guessed, or criticised by other family members and/or the care recipient. You may feel reluctant, unable, or unwilling to reach out for help from others when you are dealing with caregiver burnout. Isolation and energy conservation are hallmarks of caregiver burnout and can negatively impact your relationships with others.
Signs of caregiver burnout:
- Sleeplessness
- Irritability
- Social withdrawal
- Anxiety
- Fatigue
- Appetite and weight loss
- Losing interest in activities or hobbies
- Depression
- Difficulty in concentration
- Being late for work
- Procrastinating
- Having trouble relaxing, even when help is available
- Experiencing a decreased sexual desire
- Having much less energy than you once had
- Neglecting responsibilities
- Thinking cynically
- Drinking more coffee, tea, and soda
- Drinking, smoking, or eating more
- Experiencing apathy
How can I avoid caregiver burnout?
- Take care of yourself through physical activity, proper meals and good sleep
- Be kind to yourself
- Be aware of your limitations
- Remain socially connected
- Maintain humour
- Take a break when needed
- Open up to friends and family
- Seek professional help
For more info, check out How to Care for Yourself as A Caregiver.
Compassion fatigue
Compassion fatigue is an extreme state of tension and preoccupation with the suffering of your loved one. It results from exposure to another person’s traumatic experience(s) and creates high levels of emotional stress and despair. Compassion fatigue is the final stage of burnout which often causes caregivers to experience a weakened sense of empathy for those in their care. One might experience decreased patience and/or tolerance or experience angry outbursts that are uncharacteristic of their behaviour.
Signs of compassion fatigue:
- Feelings of hopelessness and meaninglessness
- Having chronic stomach or bowel problems
- Feeling overwhelmed, exhausted, and drained
- Having chronic headaches
- Desiring to ‘drop out’ of society
- Avoiding and not wanting to be around friends, work, and perhaps even family
- Thinking of suicide as a means of escape
Feeling stressed, anxious, or uncertain of what you are feeling? Take a self-check assessment to assess your stress, anxiety and mental health. The links below also equip individuals with tools, knowledge and pathways to self-care and seek out professional help when needed.
Self-Care
Self-care means taking time off to care for yourself, such as doing things that you enjoy and help you relax. Explore ways to include fun and enjoyable activities into your caregiving routine! It is recommended to do things that energise you even if for a short duration; something is better than nothing.
Examples of self-care activities:
- Listening to music of your liking
- Catching up on TV shows
- Meeting a friend for a cup of coffee
- Taking a stroll in nature
- Treat yourself with a massage
Learn more about self-care tips here.
What is Respite?
Caregivers do not have to shoulder all the responsibilities alone. Caregiving is an ongoing journey, and you should pace yourself and seek support when needed to avoid burnout. Remember to give yourself a break from time to time.
You can consider exploring respite care options for your loved ones. Respite care is a service where a trained staff provides short-term care (ranging from for a few hours to a few months) for the person requiring care in the caregiver’s absence. There are four types of respite options available in Singapore:
- Respite option at a senior care centre
- Respite option at a nursing home
- Respite option at night for sundowning patients
- Home-based Respite Care (HBRC): Support caregivers of patients on home palliative care
- Informal respite support: You could tap on your family and friends to help care for your loved one in your absence
Apart from engaging the service of other service providers / family / friends, what else can you do?
Set aside respite time for yourself. Create a space for yourself where you can rest while your loved one is being taken care of by someone else. Remember: it is not selfish to set aside time and space for yourself! Your affected wellbeing may also have an impact on the care you provide for your loved ones.
FAQs for Caregivers
1. Someone I know just got a stroke and is currently in acute care (hospital). What happens next?
The stroke patient will undergo various medical tests to assess the severity of effects left by the stroke. These assessments will allow you and your loved one to better understand the type of rehab suitable for the stroke recovery journey ahead.
The stroke care team will then work with you and the stroke patient to work out the discharge care plan, such as deciding on either inpatient or outpatient rehab and understanding your care needs.
Click here to read more about the post-stroke care journey on HealthHub.
2. Why do they feel like a different person after the stroke?
A stroke can occur in the part of the brain responsible for personality and mood, which can cause a person to behave differently from before the stroke.On the other hand, the effects of a stroke can also cause a person to feel as though their identity has changed as they may no longer be able to perform certain activities as before. Such changes in identity can lead to low moods, reduced social interaction with others, mental health issues such as depression or anxiety, or others.
3. How can I support them in their recovery journey?
4. What are the fees for stroke rehab at S3?
5. How to register for stroke rehab at S3?