Caregiver Stress

Who is a caregiver?

You're a caregiver if you give basic care to a person who has a chronic medical condition. A chronic condition is an illness that lasts for a long period of time or doesn't go away. Examples of chronic conditions are cancer, stroke, multiple sclerosis, dementia and Alzheimer's disease.

If you're a caregiver, you might be doing the following things for another person:

• Lifting
  
• Turning him or her in bed
  
• Bathing
  
• Dressing
  
• Feeding
  
• Cooking
  
• Shopping
  
• Paying bills
  
• Running errands
  
• Giving medicine
  
• Keeping him or her company
  
• Providing emotional support
  

Why is caring for someone with dementia so hard?

The person you're caring for may not know you anymore. He or she may be too ill to talk or follow simple plans. This may make it hard for you to think of that person in the same way that you did before he or she became ill.

The person you're caring for may also have behavior problems, like yelling, hitting or wandering away from home. This behavior may make you feel angry and frustrated.

How can I tell if caregiving is putting too much stress on me?

Common signs of caregiver stress include the following:

• Feeling sad or moody
  
• Crying more often than you used to
  
• Having low energy level
  
• Feeling like you don't have any time to yourself
  
• Having trouble sleeping, or not wanting to get out of bed in the morning
  
• Having trouble eating, or eating too much
  
• Seeing friends or relatives less often than you used to
  
• Losing interest in your hobbies or the things you used to do with friends or family
  
• Feeling angry at the person you are caring for or at other people or situations
  

In addition, you may not get any thanks from the person you are caring for. This may add to your feelings of stress and frustration.

What should I do if I'm feeling overwhelmed and stressed?