Here at Newcastle Place, no one is a stranger. The health and wellbeing of older adults is at the core of everything we do, which is why we are proud to offer top-tier health services to residents and non-residents alike.
Nestled along the North Shore of Wisconsin near Milwaukee, our community offers assisted living, short-term rehabilitation, memory care, skilled nursing and respite care services to older adults in the Mequon area. Respite care provides a reprieve of caregiving duties for a primary caregiver and can be an effective option to help combat caregiver burnout.
What is caregiver burnout?
According to the Cleveland Clinic caregiver burnout is “a state of physical, emotional and mental exhaustion” experienced by stressed caregivers. It’s no wonder more and more unpaid caregivers are feeling this way. Juggling a paying job with caring for a loved one on top of all the other competing demands for your time and attention is enough to wipe anyone out.
“Self care” is a popular term that is often associated with spa days, but for unpaid caregivers, self care can quite literally mean simply remembering to take care of oneself. The AARP and The National Alliance for Caregiving found that unpaid caregivers report physical, emotional and financial strain, with 23 percent of caregivers finding it difficult to take care of their own health. If caregivers don’t take the time to prioritize their own health, then both they and their loved one can suffer the consequences.
Currently, there are more than 41 million unpaid caregivers in the United States caring for someone over the age of 50. And with the number of adults over the age of 65 expected to double by 2050, so too, will we see an increase in unpaid caregivers. That’s why it’s important to address the signs and causes of caregiver burnout now, so you or a loved one can recognize the signs and look for options to lessen your stress.
Signs of Caregiver Burnout
Signs of caregiver burnout include feeling anxious, unhappy or stressed. If you feel more reactive or irritable than usual or withdraw from family and friends, these may be signs of caregiver burnout. Answer the following questions honestly to get a pulse on how caregiving might be affecting you:
- Do you prioritize the health of others before your own?
- Do you say no to activities or time with friends you used to enjoy?
- Do you feel anxious about making ends meet?
- Do you feel resentful towards your loved one or towards those in your life who are not caregiving?
- Do you worry about leaving your loved one alone?
If you answered “yes” to more than one of those questions, you may be experiencing caregiver burnout. If you are feeling stressed, overwhelmed or burnt out, please know you are not alone and there are options available to help alleviate your burden.
Options to Lessen Caregiver Burnout
One wonderful option to help lessen caregiver burnout is to find caregiver support groups. Connecting with others who have been through or are currently going through similar experiences can help reduce stress and depression and have a positive impact on coping abilities and knowledge.
Of course, respite care, whether in the form of assistance from family and friends or through professionals and hired services, can also provide a reprieve for caregivers for a few hours or a few days. Respite care options include:
- Assistance from family, friends and neighbors
- Regular or drop-in programming at adult day centers
- Hired support from professional caregivers and home health aides
- Residential respite care in a senior living community
Residential Respite Care in Mequon, Wisconsin
If you are looking for compassionate respite care services, look no further than Newcastle Place. We offer short-term respite care services in our Highlands Health Center for a minimum stay of 7 days. You can rest easy knowing your loved one has access to our 24/7 skilled nursing care while you take a much deserved break. Residential respite care at Newcastle Place allows short-term guests the opportunity to “try on” life in our community, and provides them access to the same luxurious services and amenities as our full-time residents, including chef-inspired meals and wellness and social programming.
Could you and your loved one benefit from respite care? Please fill out the form below or call us at 262-387-8800, so we can discuss how to best meet your needs.
