If you are feeling somewhat disheartened in your role as caregiver, take heart; you’re in good company. Taking care of family members at home is probably one of the most complex roles we can hold: highly gratifying on the one hand, while simultaneously frustrating and ever-evolving, regularly bringing about feelings of doubt over whether we are up to the challenge and providing the best possible care.
It is why a lot of family caregivers grapple with some or all of these types of caregiver emotions:
- Guilt: You may possibly feel as though you are not doing as much as you really need to in order to assist your senior loved one, that you’re self-centered for wanting time away to yourself, or that you’re ill-prepared to provide the help your parent needs.
- Helplessness: There are some circumstances when you simply can’t solve the problems your senior loved one is experiencing.
- Anger or frustration: This might be directed at yourself, other members of the family who seem as if they’re not doing their fair share, and on occasion even at your older loved one for causing you to be in this situation.
- Resentment: Extremely typical when caring for someone who hurt or betrayed you in the past, it’s easy for those feelings to resurface when that individual is now in your care.
- Hopelessness: When a senior loved one faces a difficult diagnosis such as a chronic or terminal condition, feelings of hopelessness can settle in, which can bring on despondency or depression.
Recognizing these feelings, and accepting that they are absolutely normal, is an excellent place to start. These guidelines can also help:
- Share your feelings. Find a trusted friend, family member, or professional therapist to vent to, a person who can offer a new perspective and help you to shift your thinking to a more positive slant.
- Keep in mind the advice you would offer a good friend. Sometimes, stepping out of your circumstances and picturing how you’d respond to another individual dealing with these feelings can provide important insight. Offer the same encouragement you’d provide to another, to yourself.
- Find a care partner. Working with a knowledgeable care provider, like JFS Care, enables you to achieve a healthy life balance – something that is vital to every caregiver.
Get in touch with our highly trained, experienced, and compassionate care team by calling (213) 383-2273 and let us walk alongside you with the top quality, customized care services your loved one deserves – enabling you to take much-needed time for self-care when dealing with various caregiver emotions. We’re always available to answer any questions you have, to provide helpful resources specific to the challenges you’re facing, and to provide a no-cost in-home consultation to share how we can help with senior caregivers in Los Angeles or the surrounding areas. Visit our Service Area page for a full listing of the locations we serve.