Compassion Fatigue: What Family Caregivers Need to Know
Comfort Keepers
For more information about the author, click to view their website: Comfort Keepers
Jul 29, 2024
Colorado - Western Slope
Knowing the Limits
Caring for others is often driven by motivations of love and understanding. It’s
not uncommon for family caregivers to initially feel that their capacity for
helping those they love is nearly limitless. From taking care of finances and
managing medications to preparing meals and cleaning, there’s certainly a sense
of fulfillment that comes along with assisting a loved one. But many find
themselves going through the motions of caring without taking time out to focus
on their own needs – often to the point of physical and emotional exhaustion.
As a result, family caregivers may feel something they’ve never experienced
before: decreased empathy. This condition is known as compassion fatigue.
In decades past, compassion fatigue was seen primarily in
healthcare professionals. This should hardly come as a surprise considering the
profession involves constantly helping patients who are suffering or
experiencing a diminished quality of life. But as the country’s aging
population continues to grow, there are many family caregivers who are left
feeling much the same way.
In addition to the lower threshold of empathy, family
caregivers experiencing compassion fatigue may feel the following:
- Exhaustion
(physical and/or emotional)
- Feelings
of dread or guilt
- Irritability,
anxiety, or anger
- Difficulty
sleeping
- Difficulty
making decisions
- Feeling
disconnected
- Trouble
finding meaning in caregiving
- Self-isolation
The Compassion Fatigue Awareness Project notes that the
worst symptom of compassion fatigue is denial because it prohibits family
caregivers from examining the feelings associated with their caregiving
situation. And if ignored for an extended period of time, family caregivers may
begin to feel resentment toward their loved one, ultimately leading to a
communication breakdown and strained relationship.
Outside relationships suffer as well. In a collaborative
research study with the Stanford Center on Longevity, Comfort Keepers, and
ClearCare, it was indicated that those responsible for a loved one with a
severe illness experience poor emotional wellbeing because of their inability
to properly maintain their social lives. The results of the study highlight the
increasing need for family caregivers to not only acknowledge their compassion
fatigue, but also take steps toward self-care. Doing so can certainly help the
family caregiver, but it will also help mend the relationship with their loved
one.
What to Do Next
Below are a few steps that family caregivers can take to combat compassion
fatigue and get back to feeling positive about caring for their loved ones.
- Understand
the common signs of compassion fatigue (listed above) and acknowledge them
if they occur.
- Practice
a self-care regimen that includes a balanced diet, regular exercise, and
consistent sleep.
- Carve
out time to spend with friends and maintain social connections.
- Find a
caregiver support program, either in the community or online.
- Document
your thoughts and feelings related to caregiving in a journal.
- Choose
healthy activities during your downtime (e.g., go for a walk, meditate, or
practice a favorite hobby).
- Discuss
your feelings with a counselor or therapist.
Comfort Keepers®Can Help
Caring for others, especially those who have been instrumental in our
upbringing, can be uniquely rewarding. At Comfort Keepers®, we value
the relationships family caregivers have with their loved ones, and it’s our
goal to help maintain them. We offer respite care and senior care services that
help family caregivers take the time they need to practice self-care, with
peace of mind that their loved ones are receiving quality assistance.
Learn more about our respite care and senior care services
by contacting a local office today.
References:
Good Therapy. “The Cost of Caring: 10 Ways to Prevent Compassion Fatigue.” Web.
2016.
Psychology Today. “Are You Suffering from Compassion Fatigue?” by Sherrie Bourg
Carter Psy.D. Web. 2014.
Stanford Center on Longevity. “Spotlight on Caregiving: Exploring the
Well-being of Family Caregivers” by
Sarah Raposo, Jessica Barnes, Tamara Sims, Amy Yotopoulos, Laura Carstensen,
Mary Bowman,
Jacquelyn Kung. Web. 2016.
Daily Caring. “How to Cope with Compassion Fatigue: 8 Tips for Caregiver.” Web.
2017.
AARP. “Caregiving in the U.S.” Web. 2015.
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