Video Transcript
[0:00] Welcome to Caregiver SOS by Bay Alarm Medical. 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.
[0:15] Here’s a question we got about regret and caregiving. “I have always been close to my aunt. She has no kids of her own and always saw me as one of her own. So when she asked me to help her out as she got older, I was happy to. That was years ago, and now I’m at her house almost daily. It’s a lot of work. I’m missing out on a lot of stuff in my own life to care for her. Is it wrong for me to say I regret becoming her caregiver?”
[0:44] No one knows exactly what they’re getting into when they become a family caregiver. Sometimes an aging loved one doesn’t need a lot of help, while other times they decline significantly and require a lot of support. You are not the first caregiver to begin to question your caregiving promise.
[1:05] It’s okay to say out loud to your friends and to your support system that you’re feeling some regret. In fact, talking about those feelings is the best way to process them and begin to uncover your next steps.
[1:18] You can also spend some time writing down all the tasks you currently help your aunt with. Once that list is done, see what tasks you can outsource or get some help with. For example, can you schedule a free Meals on Wheels delivery for her so that you don’t have to worry about prepping those meals on your own? Or can you sign her up for free senior transportation to and from her appointments so that you don’t have to drive her?
[1:38] Taking some tasks off your plate, even if it’s just a few, can significantly reduce your stress and time commitment. Contact the senior services department in your aunt’s city. They will have resources to share with you so that you can reduce some of your caregiving load.
[1:55] Like and subscribe for more caregiving advice.
