Video Transcript
[0:00] Welcome to Caregiver SOS by Bay Alarm Medical.
[0:03] My name is Haley Burress. I’m a caregiving expert here to talk about the ugly side of caregiving that no one else talks about — the most frustrating and challenging parts of caring for an aging family member, and how to get through it.
[0:16] Here’s a question from a caregiver wrestling with mixed emotions: I just want the life I had back before I had to start caring for my dad. He requires so much of my attention. Am I being selfish for just wanting a normal life again?
[0:33] Caregiving is hard, and it’s okay to miss the time when you didn’t have to worry about who was going to pick up dad’s groceries or schedule his next physical therapy appointment. This is not being selfish. In fact, caregiving already requires that the family caregiver puts someone else ahead of themselves — which is the opposite of selfishness. Sounds pretty selfless to me.
[0:59] So no, you aren’t selfish. You’re just missing life before caregiving. That’s okay. You’re probably also missing the dad who didn’t have all of these health challenges and needs. That’s okay too.
[1:08] However, these feelings could indicate that you’re feeling the strain of caregiving. Caregiver burnout is a set of symptoms caused by the emotional and physical strain of caregiving, and it can result in sleep disruptions, depression, anxiety, and even a decreased immune response.
[1:31] Take these feelings as a warning sign from your body, and take some steps to get the mental and physical rest you need. Ask your siblings or other family members if they can come take over some of your regular caregiving tasks every week for a few months or so. This way you can get some of that normal life back for a bit, and return to caregiving feeling more refreshed.
[1:56] Caregiving can tax your own health if you aren’t taking care of yourself. Listen to your feelings and schedule that respite for yourself before you burn out completely.
[2:06] Like and subscribe for more caregiving advice.
