Other people in your life may ask you why you seem to be experiencing so much stress. If they haven’t been a caregiver themselves, they may not fully understand everything that you manage. You might not even realize everything that you deal with in order to be your loved one’s family caregiver. Being able to understand why you’re so very stressed can help you to figure out solutions for the stress.

They’re Constantly on Call

Family caregivers don’t really get time off unless they enforce that time away for themselves. You’re constantly on call for your loved one, whether you’re a full-time caregiver or an occasional caregiver because your loved one is mostly still self-sufficient. Even if your loved one isn’t calling you, you’re likely to be worried and concerned about how she’s doing.

They Make Big Decisions

Even if other family members are pitching in, you’re almost definitely the one making the big decisions. Your loved one may have left you “in charge” from a legal standpoint as well, which can be a lot of pressure. You want to make sure that you’re making the right choice at every step, even with the smaller decisions. As a result, you’re constantly gathering information and weighing it against your loved one’s needs.

They’re Juggling Multiple Needs

Very few people are caregivers only and have no other responsibilities or needs. That’s not realistic at all. So there’s a good bit of strain that comes along with trying to make sure that every aspect of your life gets the attention that it deserves. Your own personal life may often take a back seat, but other aspects of your life, such as your career, may not be able to be as flexible.

Those Needs can Change Rapidly

Not only are you juggling multiple needs, but those needs can change very quickly. You’re constantly having to monitor your current priorities and adjust your actions based on those new priorities. This can especially be difficult when your loved one’s health is worsening or when there’s an emergent situation.

If you’re experiencing stress as a caregiver, do what you can to make your life easier. Enlist the help of other family members and senior care providers and take care of yourself.

If you or an aging loved one are considering live-in care or 24 hour home care in Richardson, TX, please contact the caring staff at Assisting Hands of Preston Hollow today at (214) 760-6944.