#CANSAcares

MORE than a Caregiver - look after ALL of YOU!

You are a caring person, but this was not something you anticipated doing or trained for. Life thrust you into the role of caregiver abruptly and it was pretty much sink or swim...

Sound familiar?

Most caregivers are not professionals, but ordinary husbands, wives, sons, daughters, brothers, sisters, uncles, aunts, cousins, grandchildren or friends whose loved ones (patients), have grown dependent on them for daily needs, medication and emotional support. Often caregivers are holding down a full time job, and assisting with care.

Regardless of whether you are a professional caregiver, or you’ve landed the role without auditioning for it, research indicates that you are in danger of losing your personal identity and neglecting your own physical, emotional and spiritual well-being, as you cope with the daily demands of caregiving.

You are more likely to:

• Feel sad, overwhelmed, and become depressed
• Struggle with anxiety, irritation or anger
• Lose interest in activities you used to enjoy
• Have difficulty sleeping or sleep too much
• Experience physical health problems (frequent headaches, bodily pain, elevated blood pressure, compromised immunity, gaining or losing too much weight)
• Be vulnerable to substance abuse / dependency (alcohol, drugs, prescription medication) or comfort eating

This is due to the fact that during the course of caregiving a shift in roles and responsibilities takes place. This can lead to emotional strain and it is therefore natural to feel angry, frustrated, exhausted, alone and sad at times. This in turn can lead to feeling guilty, even though you are doing your best to care for your loved one.

Due to extra duties that need to be done, your physical reserves may also be depleted in the long term, and you may find that you become isolated from others due to demands on your time.

You may not have the time or energy to do things that used to be a part of your everyday life, or that you enjoyed or stimulated you - things that were a significant part of your identity before becoming a Caregiver – this can lead to feeling a loss of personal identity.

Emotional and physical stressors of caregiving can eventually lead to ‘caregiver burnout’, if not recognised and treated early on. Too much stress, especially over a prolonged period, can harm your health.

Dominique Forbes-Rose (caregiver) shares: “In many ways it is a very lonely journey. It is just as traumatising for the carer, as for the cancer patient. You give so much of yourself to look after your loved one, you have no time to look after yourself. And with that, you don’t want to worry the patient about everything that you are taking care of behind the scenes, because they need to focus on getting healthy. It is probably the toughest mental wellness journey you can ever go through, and you need a support network to help you.”

CANSA recognises the importance of connecting caregivers with others walking a similar path. Dominique is a member of our CANSA Caring for the Carers Facebook Support Group and we urge you to join this inspiring Caregiver Community.

Dominique concludes:  “I am so grateful that CANSA has a platform of support for us carers – it is so important to get that support.”

Edward Geach, also a member of the support group says:  "My wife's cancer is my cancer. My wife's victories are my victories, but I try carry as much of the weight as I can during the dark days. CANSA helps me through when I need to offload and draw some strength for myself."

Time to Take Stock

A Caregiver needs as much information and support as the patient does. Take a moment to reflect on your life as it is now. Use the following questions to help you to evaluate where you are. If your answer to two or more of these questions is ‘no’, then you may be at risk for burnout, or on the brink of it.

Take Action

If you recognise that you are headed for burnout, set goals for yourself to improve your knowledge, self-care and attitude. Use the tips in our infographic, slide show and fact sheet to help you.

Please also contact your local CANSA Care Centre where staff can assist with support to you as a Caregiver, as well as to your loved one (patient). Read more…

Slide show

Your role as a Caregiver may be daunting, but you needn’t be alone. #CANSAcares and we are here to support you!