Recognizing the Mental Health Impact on Family Caregivers

November 2023

By Howard Olshansky, JFS Executive Director

Typically in November, I would address the mental health stress associated with the upcoming holiday season or the need to give thanks during Thanksgiving. However, November is also designated as National Family Caregivers Month. Family caregivers represent a segment of our society that faces significant stress and deserves recognition.

According to the National Alliance for Caregiving, over the past year, an estimated 65.7 million Americans, which accounts for 29 % of the U.S. adult population, have served as family caregivers for ill or disabled relatives. This estimate may even be conservative, as many individuals who provide care do not necessarily identify as caregivers, even when they are actively managing the well-being of a loved one who may not reside in the same household. Consider, for instance, the number of seniors living in assisted living facilities who rely on caregiver sons or daughters to oversee their finances and healthcare.

Additionally, it’s important to note that caregivers often experience a range of emotional challenges, including fatigue, stress, withdrawal, anxiety, and depression. This collection of symptoms is commonly referred to as “caregiver burnout,” a state of physical, emotional, and mental exhaustion that can arise when individuals dedicate substantial time and energy to managing the health and safety of someone else, often at the expense of their own well-being. Caregiver burnout is a serious issue that deserves attention and support.

According to the Cleveland Clinic, the signs and symptoms of caregiver burnout are similar to those of stress and depression. They include:

- Emotional and physical exhaustion

- Withdrawal from friends, family, and other loved ones

- Loss of interest in activities previously enjoyed

- Feeling hopeless and helpless

- Changes in appetite and/or weight

- Changes in sleep patterns

- Unable to concentrate

- Getting sick more often

- Irritability, frustration, or anger

Everyone’s experience with burnout is different. Caregiver burnout may cause the following feelings:

- Anxiety or fear: If you do something wrong, it will harm someone within your care.

- Anger or frustration: The person within your care doesn’t accept, want, or appreciate the care you’re providing.

- Denial: The severity of the person’s condition you’re caring for isn’t that bad.

- Guilt: Spending time taking care of yourself is less important than the person within your care. You might feel bad doing things to care for yourself because they benefit you and not others.

- Negativity: Your caregiving journey started positively but now feels like a dark cloud is following you. Your feelings toward your responsibility are passive or you don’t have the desire to do your job well.

- Secluded or alone: You feel like you don’t have support, no one wants to help, or asking for help is a sign of weakness.

Here are some ways to prevent caregiver burnout:

- Find someone you trust. It helps to talk about your feelings and frustrations. It can be a friend, family member, or mental health professional. Organizations like JFS also offer caregivers support groups.

- Set realistic goals. It’s important to accept that you may need assistance with caregiving, especially if you are trying to balance other responsibilities. Assess what you can manage and reach out for assistance, if necessary.

- Learn more. You may feel more comfortable providing care when you have the knowledge and understanding of the situation. This is especially true if you are dealing with illnesses such as Parkinson’s or Alzheimer’s diseases. The more you understand the better you will be able to assess needed future services.

- Take care of yourself. It’s the age-old adage, you cannot take care of someone else if you are not well. Make sure your needs are met first so you are actually able to support your loved one. This includes both physical and mental health time. This also includes eating well and getting adequate sleep.

- Accept your feelings. Having frustrated or negative feelings about your caregiving responsibilities is normal. It does not mean you are a bad person and you should not feel guilty or bad. If these feelings become overwhelming reach out for help.

Remember almost one out of every three people are caregivers-even if they don’t realize it! Their mental health may just depend on your support. And while you’re acknowledging what you are grateful for at your Thanksgiving table, give a shout-out to the caregivers in your family.

Jewish Family Services provides support and resources for caregivers. To learn more contact JFS at 704-364-6594 or info@ jfscharlotte.org