Being a caregiver is among the most rewarding, and at the same time, stressful occupations in the world. These people put their heart and soul into ensuring the well-being of a senior. They do anything and everything they can to put their beloved elder’s comfort and happiness above their own. Caregivers’ stress and burnout is the unfortunately common side-effect of this job.

In the case of caregivers nursing elderly with dementia and/or Alzheimer’s, the psychological impact and stress upon them is significantly more and can seriously hamper their own mental health.

If you are one of those kind and loving people who are suffering from caregivers stress and burnout, then today’s article is for you. Read on to find out how to prevent the ailment and bring happiness back into your lives.

1. Give time to yourself.

A huge part of a caregiver’s job is devoting a lot of their resources ensuring the wellbeing of others.

From the daily necessities of meals and bath time to the smaller and even more important things of making conversation with the senior, or a kind gesture like making chocolate chip cookies with them to just bring some fun and light into their day.

Caregivers become so involved in someone else’s life that they forget to live their own. Not giving time to yourself is what leads to swift burnout.

Therefore the first thing you need to do is simply take a day off. Assign your duties for the day to an equally competent caregiver. Spend time by going on a trip with friends. Meet with family, or just simply read a book in the comfort of your own home. Everyone needs some me-time; you deserve it too!

2. Research the disease.

The transformation from being cared for to giving care among parents and children can be a challenging one, to say the least.

Sons and daughters suddenly find themselves in the role of a caregiver nursing a parent with dementia. They feel anxiety about their parent’s future and frustration at the simple tasks the elder can no longer do.

This is a key symptom of experiencing caregiver burnout. The caregiver needs to take a step back and at first research their elder’s disease to understand what’s happening.

It will reduce unwarranted anger and frustration at the patient. As the disease gets worse, they will need to find ways to cope with the changes. Talking to other caregivers and discussing the problems with them can help immensely too.

3. Meditation – a great way to prevent caregivers’ stress and burnout.

Experiencing stress and anxiety are bound to the job of a caregiver. They are always anxious about their patient’s health, stressful about finances, worried about the future, exhausted from the labor…

There is no way to completely remove this negativity, but there are effective ways to reduce it.

Sit down in a quiet place and take some deep breaths. Put on some soothing music if you want. Relax your body and forget your mundane activities. Focus and imagine a place you wish to be in for just fifteen minutes a day and meditate.

These fifteen minutes are enough to rejuvenate your mind and give it the much-needed break it needs from reality. Doing this exercise with the elder is also a nice thought; the elder may also constantly be in a state of anxiety.

Meditation can do a lot of good for them too.