Are You Suffering Caregiver Guilt in Your Care Journey?

By Jamie Shapiro | July 5, 2017 | Comments Off on Are You Suffering Caregiver Guilt in Your Care Journey?
Home Care in Des Plaines IL: Caregiver Guilt

Home Care in Des Plaines IL: Caregiver Guilt

When you first decided to step into the role of being a family caregiver for your elderly loved one you likely expected that you would experience some emotional reactions to the role itself and to the tasks that you would need to handle for them. You might have expected stress, worry, and even some anxiety related to the care. What you might not have expected is to feel guilt. Caregiver guilt is an extremely common issue of family caregivers, but it can also be one of the most negatively impactful, influencing both your senior and you. Recognizing that you might be suffering from this issue can help you to make the decisions that are right for you in easing this guilt, coping with your stress, and ensuring that you are giving your senior the best quality of care possible while also guarding your own health and well-being.

Some signs that you might be suffering from caregiver guilt in your caregiving journey with your aging parent can include:

  • Feeling as though you are not doing enough for your aging parent.
  • Feeling as though your parent would be better off if you were not the one who was caring for them, or as though someone else would be a better caregiver than you.
  • Worrying every time that you are away from your aging parent.
  • Cancelling plans with friends and family so that you can be more available for your aging parent even if you know that they do not really need you to be there.
  • Resisting advancements in your career, promotions, more responsibility in your organizations, or other opportunities because you feel that it would take you away from your parent too much.
  • Feeling as though you do not deserve to have fun or relax when you are not with your parent.
  • Feeling sad, upset, stressed, or anxious when you are not with your parent, or feeling as though you do not deserve any time away from them.
  • Constantly feeling the need to apologize to your parent for the decisions that you make or the amount of time and effort that you are putting into your care.
  • Constantly putting more time and effort into the care that you give your parent to the sacrifice of other things in your life.

 

Starting home care for your aging parent can be one of the best decisions that you can make for your elderly loved one throughout the course of your caregiver journey with them. An in-home senior care services provider can be with your aging loved one on a fully customized schedule designed to address their individual needs, challenges, and limitations while also ensuring that you are kept at the forefront of their care. Through a highly personalized set of services, this home care provider can help your parent to stay safe, healthy, comfortable, and happy throughout their later years while also encouraging them to pursue a lifestyle that is as active, independent, and fulfilling as possible. As a family caregiver, this care provider can also make a tremendous difference in your health and well-being. Knowing that your loved one has this care can ease your stress, help you to cope with guilt, and ensure that you have the time and energy to take care of yourself, your family, and the other obligations in your life.

If you or an aging loved one are considering  home care in Des Plaines, IL, contact the caring staff at Companion Services of America today at (847) 943-3786. Our home care service area includes Northbrook, Highland Park, Deerfield, Glenview, Buffalo Grove, Evanston, Des Plaines, Skokie, Lake Forest, Wilmette and the surrounding areas.

Jamie Shapiro
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Posted in Caregiver Stress, Home Care in Des Plaines IL and tagged