Ive heard a lot about “caregiver burnout.” Whats that?
Suzanne Mintz, co-founder and president of the National Family Caregivers Association (NFCA), likens the caregiver who is about to suffer burnout to a teakettle. “When all the heat and steam build up inside and you hear the kettle whistling,” she says, “it is like a scream for help.” To say the least, caregiving is physically and emotionally demanding work. It can take a toll so great that many caregivers feel they simply cannot go on any longer. “If you don’t take care of yourself, you will end up giving a piece of yourself away, and then more and more pieces of yourself,” says Colette H. LaFosse, MSG, director of rehabilitation and recovery programs with the Colorado-based National Stroke Association. “You will eventually lose who you are. When your caregiving duties end, you will have to completely re-create who you once were.” LaFosse advises that caregivers take time out for themselves, whether it’s 15 minutes for a cup of coffee, or to chat on the phone with a friend at least onc
Related Questions
- We heard that nonprofits might be eligible to receive an extra donation of Microsoft products this year, instead of one. How does that work?
- I heard about a unique fan hospitality area where guests can hear from their favorite drivers. What is this area and where will it be?
- Ive heard a lot about "caregiver burnout." Whats that?
