In Spain, 28.3% of women aged 35 to 44 do not work because they have the responsibility of caring for a dependent person, while 53.3% of them make this work compatible with part-time workAccording to data provided by the National Institute of Statistics (INE). Now, do we really know how being a caregiver affects mental health? Let’s see it.
Caring is rewarding, but it’s also tiring and exhausting.
The first study of the CINFA Care Observatory: “Radography of family care in Spanish society” endorsed by the Spanish Society of Geriatrics and Gerontology (SEGG) states: 59.6% of people They consider taking care of dependent people to be physically and emotionally exhausting and tiring. But that’s not all. 27.5% believe they can do more or much better, 26.6% believe they lack resources and this ultimately breeds frustration, and 20.4% feel lonely or lacking support.
If this problem is not resolved in the long term, it can put an end to all those good feelings and well-being that being a caregiver brings. Because in that study, 35.2% felt joy in sharing moments with those you love, and 34.2% felt this way. Gratitude for being able to be present. Likewise, emphasis is also placed on peace of mind in knowing that the person being cared for is well cared for. But all this can be put aside if fatigue, exhaustion and overload are not managed.
Tips to avoid its impact on mental health
Although it’s always recommended to seek professional help if a caregiver needs it, Mayo Clinic experts share some Tips to reduce stress When they appear and prevent them from getting worse over time. To do that, here are some recommendations they share.
The first of these tips is Ask for help. There are family members who can also provide assistance or perhaps the specific assistance that each autonomous community launches every year. An example of this is Xunta de Galicia’s family care program that just ended in October this year and which allowed caregivers to have time for themselves while the person in their care cares for them temporarily (a few hours a day, for example).
The second advice is: Focus on what you can doDivide tasks and follow a routine. You don’t have to try to be perfect, which can sometimes exhaust and exhaust you even more. Therefore, in the event that you are unable to do everything, you must seek help no matter what, before the stress ends up prolonging and continuing over time.
The third tip is Join a support group. The health center may recommend one, or there are certainly options in the autonomous region where the caregiver resides. Continuing the example of Galicia mentioned earlier, there is the Galicia Network for Personal Autonomy Support where there are many services: physical care, rest, training and support.
Ask for help before Burnout caregiver syndrome It seems very important, since there are many women who are taking care of a dependent person. Finding a support network and using the help offered by each independent community is an option to prevent it from appearing.
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