The way you carry yourself around your elderly loved one can have a strong impact on his or her mental and physical health. If you are experiencing stress, it could lead to a negative environment. Here are some of the ways the stress you experience can affect your loved one’s wellbeing.
Guilt Develops
Seeing you stress out over caregiving duties could make your loved one feel like he or she is to blame. The guilt could have a negative impact on the way your loved one responds to treatment and possibly slow down his or her recovery time. Although it is important to vent your issues, never show this emotion in front of your loved one. When you need to talk about your caregiver role openly and honestly, speak with a mentor or attend a caregiver support group. Speaking about the downsides of caregiving with your loved one could cause guilt that leads to chronic stress and high levels of anxiety that his or her body can’t handle.
Family caregivers need to care for their own wellbeing. If you are caring for an aging loved one and are feeling overwhelmed, consider hiring a professional caregiver to provide respite care. Safety Harbor families who want to avoid burnout can turn to Home Care Assistance. One of our professional caregivers can assist your loved one at home while you take a nap, go to work, run errands, or go on vacation.
Mood Swings Become Frequent
Knowing you are stressed could cause your loved one to experience behavioral changes. His or her mood could change based on the emotions you display. When you are stressed, your loved one could become agitated, confused, and violent and counter your stress with negative actions and emotions. To prevent caregiver stress, ask other family members to share the duties, and make sure to take breaks. You should also maintain a social life outside of caregiving, which includes doing activities you enjoyed prior to becoming a caregiver.
Families who need help caring for a senior loved one can turn to Home Care Assistance, a leading provider of Clearwater Home Care. Services available in our customizable care plans include meal prep, mental and social stimulation, assistance with personal hygiene tasks, and much more.
Stress Builds Up
Aging adults often imitate the emotions their family caregivers display. For example, if you are stressed out all of the time, your loved one could mirror those emotions and develop chronic stress and high levels of depression, which could have a negative impact on his or her overall health, especially heart health and mental wellbeing. Therefore, you need to learn how to control the stress in your life. You need to know what triggers the stress and what positive habits can combat those stressful situations. The less stressed out you are, the calmer the living environment could be.
Doubt Settles In
Caregiver stress could be due to watching your loved one’s health deteriorate, knowing there is nothing that can be done to stop the process. When seniors witness this type of stress, they may give up on their health as well. Instead of fighting to boost cognitive health or prevent an age-related disease, your loved one may become doubtful. Always remain positive about your loved one’s health instead of letting it stress you out. When you receive a bad diagnosis from your loved one’s family doctor, discuss the options you have and try to ease the situation. When you need to cry, make sure your loved one is not around. You should also take breaks from time to time to regroup and recharge.
Managing negative emotions while caring for a senior loved can be difficult for family caregivers. If you are the primary caregiver for a senior family member and are looking for professional home care, Safety Harbor Home Care Assistance should be your top choice. Our dedicated and compassionate caregivers are committed to helping older adults manage their health and enjoy a higher quality of life in the golden years. Call us at (727) 330-7862 to learn about our revolutionary elderly care plans and how they can benefit your aging loved one.