Stroke is a disabling disease, not only for the physical toll it take on its victims, but also for the burden it imposes on their families and caregivers.
| by Adrianna Zec, MA, Neuropsychology Specialists |
People frequently talk about finding a “new normal” life after stroke. But negotiating this unfamiliar terrain is very difficult, and a lot of responsibility falls on the shoulders of the caregiver.
Stroke requires adjustments in the lives of everyone it touches. While the survivor learns to cope with the new challenges of life after the stroke, the family and caregivers must adjust to the changes in their loved ones and their daily routines.
Evidence suggests that caregivers have poorer mental and physical health than people in general in the months and sometimes years after their loved one's stroke. Studies estimate depression among caregivers can range from 17 to 52%. Coping with the physical, emotional, and cognitive changes of loved ones is often complicated by the demands of everyday life, financial concerns, fatigue, and burnout.
New data from the Family Caregiver Alliance suggest that 76% of family caregivers report the need for respite from the demands of caregiving. Respite, or breaks, can often be as simple as assistance in getting loved ones to various appointments or a few hours away from caregiving to run errands or attend to personal needs.
Providing respite can lessen the sense of isolation that can often accompany caregiving, and it also may help reduce the risk of caregiver burden and possibly even depression.
Often in the aftermath of stroke, caregivers are reluctant to ask for help or to leave their loved one in the care of another. They push their own needs aside, thinking they're doing what is best for their loved one, when in reality, caregiver burnout negatively impacts the loved one's support network.
How to reduce caregiver burnout
If you're a caregiver, you can do a few simple things to ward off burnout:
- Establish a schedule and a routine. This regularity will help the survivor's recovery and rehabilitation and also will be important in establishing a sense of a new normal.
- Include caregiver breaks in the schedule so that you receive support too.
- Join a caregiver support group, which is a great way to obtain support and a chance to socialize.
- Mobilize help by creating your own survivor and caregiver support system at LotsaHelpingHands. This free digital tool allows you to form an online community where you can put up a schedule of events and appointments so that anyone who is willing to help can sign up when they're available.
- Look for additional ideas and information from the National Stroke Association.
Adrianna Zec, M.A., is a doctoral intern with Neuropsychology Specialists at Lancaster General Health. Following completion of her internship, she will be awarded her doctorate from Xavier University in Cincinnati, Ohio.