Caregiver Burnout: You Are Not Alone

Preventing Caregiver Burnout

Being a caregiver for someone who is ill can be overwhelming and can often lead to forgetting about simple steps for self-care. Try taking these steps to help maintain your strength and prevent caregiver burnout.

Ask for help or delegate tasks.

Asking for help doesn’t make you a bad caregiver. Make a list of your weekly tasks and determine if anyone can lighten your load. Ask your spouse to make dinner or a friend to pick up your dry cleaning or laundry.

Take time for yourself.

Give yourself permission to take a break. Visit with friends over coffee, take time for meditation, prayer or a few minutes to enjoy a cup of coffee. Get outside, even briefly to get fresh air or take a short walk.

Keep up with your health.

Don’t let your busy schedule be an excuse for skipping your own doctor’s appointments. Exercise regularly and eat a healthy diet. Taking care of yourself isn’t a luxury. It’s a necessity.

Look into family leave benefits.

Many employers offer family leave benefits. Taking advantage of this benefit could reduce your stress for a period of time.

Know your limits.

No one is a perfect caregiver. Do the best you can and don’t put too much pressure on yourself. Don’t take on more than you can realistically handle.

Talk to a professional.

Mental health counselors, therapists, social workers and clergy can help you process your feelings and emotions and offer coping mechanisms that may help.

Join a support group.

Talking with other caregivers is a great way to manage stress, share experiences and find resources within your community.

Help is Available

If you need assistance or feel you can no longer handle all your caregiving responsibilities by yourself, Catholic Health’s Care at Home Program can offer you and your loved one the support you need.

Our Care at Home program is committed to bringing expert, compassionate care and skilled support in the place your loved one feels most comfortable. Our team of medical professionals and skilled caregivers will adapt to what your loved one needs, when and where they need it - through every stage of care.

Catholic Health offers different options to provide personalized care for your loved one and help ease the burden on you and your family.

Home Care

Home Care can help to transition your loved one back into their home after hospital care or chronic illness treatment, helping to improve their health while avoiding re-hospitalization. 

Palliative Care

Palliative care is available for patients in any stage of serious illness to control symptoms, relieve suffering, and promote quality of life. This care can be delivered at the same time as curative treatments.  

Hospice Care

Hospice care is an option for patients in the final stages of life when a cure is not possible or an illness no longer responds to curative treatment. We offer compassionate care to support you and your loved ones during a serious illness.

You are not alone in your role as a caregiver. We leverage the strengths of the entire Catholic Health system to bring compassionate, trusted care. Find the care and support you and your loved one need. Learn more about Care at Home.