What Are Common Sources of Anxiety for Family Caregivers?

Anxiety symptoms can be physical, such as a racing heartbeat and a sudden bout of nausea, or may be characterized by a sense of uneasiness that cannot be explained. While anxiety is a common reaction to stress, you should also make sure it doesn’t get out of hand. Being aware of these possible causes of anxiety can help you take action to protect your mental health.

Fearing an Injury

Your role as a caregiver requires you to do things that place strain on your body. For instance, back injuries are common among caregivers who must lift or transfer their loved ones from one place to another, such as from a bed to a wheelchair. Make sure to stretch throughout the day and do strength training exercises if you worry about back injuries. Hiring an additional caregiver to help you team lift is also a solution that may prevent you from getting hurt.

Dealing with Medication Management

The responsibility of keeping up with your loved one’s medication may cause you to worry about forgetting a dose. Since medication mishaps are more likely to happen when you’re stressed or overwhelmed by your duties, this anxiety may get worse as your loved one’s condition progresses. Professional medication management is an option that allows you to stop worrying every time you administer a pill or add a new prescription to your loved one’s daily routine.

Worrying About Finances

Caregivers tend to worry about their loved one’s personal finances. To manage your role as a caregiver, you may have had to take time off from work or stop working altogether. Your loved one may also have new medical needs that increase expenses. If you currently work, look into plans that could help you get paid for your caregiver duties, or pay someone else so you can manage your career. Make sure to check out the details of your loved one’s insurance plan to see if it covers at least a portion of the cost of elderly home care. La Mesa family caregivers may also find it helpful to periodically sit down and plan a budget that gives them more control over the finances.

Feeling a Lack of Control

You want to do everything you can to help your loved one stay well. However, watching as his or her health decreases or a condition such as Parkinson’s progresses may leave you feeling helpless. If you find that being unable to control a situation gives you anxiety, focus on training your mind to think about only what you can change. When a feeling of helplessness arises, simply ask yourself what you can do. For instance, you might not be able to stop dementia from getting worse, but you can take action to slow its progression.

Thinking About an Uncertain Future

It may be difficult to look at the future with hope when your loved one’s health is expected to decrease. You may feel uncertainty about how long you can continue to provide high-quality care, and your greatest fear may be having to move your loved one out of his or her home. Planning for the future can ease these concerns. For instance, knowing that home care is available reminds you that it’s possible to maintain continuity by arranging for help. Family caregivers can become overwhelmed by their responsibilities, and anxiety is a common by-product. One way to alleviate caregiver anxiety is to hire a compassionate, professional caregiver to provide your loved one with high-quality at-home care. La Mesa families can rely on the dedicated home care experts from Coast Care Partners to treat their loved ones with dignity while maintaining the highest standards of care. Call one of our friendly representatives today at 619-354-2544 to learn more about how we can help your loved one live at home in safety and comfort.