Four Reasons Why Older Adult Caregivers Need a Supportive Community

Their very name says it all. Caregivers do just that. They administer care, support, attention, devotion, healing and company to persons who need it the most. Often, they attend to elderly or older adult population, helping them make the transition from living independently to living with part or full-time assistance with grace and dignity.

Yet, anyone who’s ever held the position can tell you that as rewarding as it, it’s not without its challenges or demands. In fact, studies reveal that even after a caregiver ceases to work in his or her role, the physical and mental effects of the stress can last for up to three years, taking their toll on the caregiver himself. As such, it’s important that caregivers plug into a supportive and understanding community where they can share their concerns, reach out to others for advice, and simply have a shoulder to lean on. Here are four reasons why this important step cannot be overlooked, and how the caregivers in your family can find support today.

1. The role can be incredibly complex.

Some caregivers simply sit with someone in the older adult community for an hour or two a day and provide a sense of company and conversation. Others might drive them around to their doctor’s appointments or to get their prescriptions filled. Still others might take on a more full-time approach, living with the person and providing meals, administering medications, making appointments, tending to lawncare, doing laundry, bathing and more. Then, there’s the administrative part of the job, which can range from balancing a checkbook to paying bills and even creating a complex care plan, such as the dementia care plan detailed by Seasons Memory Care.

Regardless of the specific role requirements, the reality is that caregiving is a multi-faceted job that requires a caregiver to be versatile and flexible. This sort of on-call environment can quickly lead to burnout as the caregiver learns to balance all those newfound responsibilities.

2. Acknowledgment can be absent.

Often, caregiving might feel like a thankless job. The party being assisted might not have the mental capacity to understand what’s being done for them and as such, are unable to express their gratitude in a tangible and comprehensible way. Moreover, from the outside, people uninitiated with the job might not fully understand what it entails.

As such, it’s possible to get some kickback from friends or family members who think it’s an easy task. To this end, it can be helpful to talk to your loved ones and explain to them the full requirements of the role, so they know the extent of the load you’re bearing and can help you if possible.

3. It can be difficult to discern how or when to leave.

Especially when caregiving for a loved one, it can be difficult for a caregiver to leave the position voluntarily without feeling at least some level of guilt. As such, many might feel as though they are “stuck” in their role with no foreseeable way out or forward. This becomes especially difficult when you consider that caregiving is unlike any other job in that working hours might not be consistent or even defined, and many older adults require around-the-clock care.

4. It can be isolating and lonely.

Often, a caregiver works directly inside of the older adult’s home and is the only other person present. Especially when working with a patient who can no longer communicate, this can lead to an incredibly long workday and can leave caregivers fighting with feelings of loneliness, isolation and even depression. Finding and cultivating a hobby outside of the home can help restore one’s individualism and encourage a sense of freedom and exploration.

Still, nothing takes the place of a community support group when it comes to helping caregivers cope and flourish in their roles. Finding someone who’s been down the same path that you’re on and can offer advice from the other side, or partnering with someone who’s currently traveling down your same road and will volunteer to be a listening ear whenever you need to vent can be a priceless connection.

If you’re a caregiver yourself or you know someone who is, check in to make sure they’re taking advantage of such groups in their locale. Regardless of how much we cherish such an important role, it’s important to invest time and care into ourselves as well, so we’re better prepared to serve those who so depend upon us.