How to Manage Stress as a Family Carer
Family carers provide a special kind of support. The love and dedication you offer an older family member are unique - but this means the responsibility of care creates a lot of stress.
Sometimes, family support is the best option for those who require it. However, as needs increase and the situation becomes more complicated, the burden can be too much for a family carer to shoulder alone.
There are an estimated 700,000 to 800,000 unpaid carers in Scotland. In 2023, Carers UK reported that 79% of all carers felt stressed or anxious because of caring’s emotional, physical, and mental toll.
If the stress is becoming too much, it’s time to consider an alternative solution. Turning to a professional Care at Home service is not giving up on your loved one. It’s a responsible choice that guarantees expert care for your loved one while creating time for you to look after yourself.
In this blog, we look at the signs of carer stress and ways to manage these feelings.
What is carer stress?
Carer stress is the particular mental strain that can accompany providing long-term support for a loved one.
It shares many signs with other forms of stress, such as:
Exhaustion
Irritability
Headaches
Muscle tension or pain
Reduced concentration
If left untreated, carer stress can eventually turn into a state of physical and mental exhaustion called burnout. This makes it much harder to care for yourself and your family member.
We understand the importance of caring - but it should never come at the expense of the carer’s health. Looking after your well-being will make you a better carer for others.
How to manage stress as a family carer
Set boundaries
As a family carer, you must know what you can and can’t do.
It’s natural to want to take over all aspects of care, but sometimes your loved one needs support that you’re not trained to provide.
If your family member’s medical needs are becoming more complex or they need more physical support, consider seeking help from an experienced professional matched to their requirements.
That way, you can feel more confident in other aspects of care with the peace of mind that your family member’s more complex needs are taken care of.
Seek emotional support
Simply talking to someone about carer stress can make a huge difference to your well-being.
This can be with family or friends, or with a support group specifically for carers and people going through similar challenges. Carers UK offers online meetings for carers to connect and share their experiences.
You can also let your GP know you are a family carer as they may be able to recommend local support groups and other forms of emotional aid like talk therapy.
Practice self-care
You might have additional responsibilities alongside your role as a family carer, such as work and childcare. This means your personal time and social life are often the first to be neglected in a busy schedule.
It’s vital to take time for yourself when caring for a loved one. By practicing simple acts of self-care, you’ll be more emotionally and physically equipped to look after another person.
These techniques can be as simple as:
Getting enough sleep
Eating a healthy, balanced diet
Practising a hobby
Getting some fresh air and exercise
Our Care At Home solutions are flexible and tailored to the needs of our clients.
That means if you need to take an afternoon for yourself or cover so you can take a well-deserved holiday, we can provide temporary professional support to take the pressure off.
Consider professional Care At Home
No matter your relative’s needs, there’s a Care At Home solution for your family.
Medway Care Services provides everything from short-term respite care to full-time live-in care services.
Care At Home is the best of both worlds: the guarantee your elderly family member is being looked after by experienced, dedicated carers while also keeping them in a familiar and comforting setting.
It’s our goal to provide compassionate, user-led care that protects the dignity and independence of the older person.
We care for clients with:
Dementia
Alzheimer’s
Parkinson’s
Multiple Sclerosis (MS)
Stroke
Diabetes
Cancer
Rehabilitation
Mental health support
Learning difficulties
Care At Home allows you to ease the burden of caring and enjoy more stress-free time with your loved one. Our carers strive to build a connection with every client and treat each person as if they were a member of our own family.
