What is caregiver burnout?
Cleveland Clinic describes Caregiver burnout as:
‘…a state of physical, emotional, and mental exhaustion that may be accompanied by a change in attitude from positive and caring to negative and unconcerned. Burnout can occur when caregivers don’t get the help they need, or if they try to do more than they are able either physically or financially. Many caregivers also feel guilty if they spend time on themselves rather than on their ill or elderly loved ones. Caregivers who are “burned out” may experience fatigue, stress, anxiety, and depression.’
What causes caregiver burnout?
Caregivers often are so busy caring for others that they tend to neglect their own emotional, physical and spiritual health. The demands on a caregiver’s body, mind and emotions can easily seem overwhelming, leading to fatigue, hopelessness and ultimately burnout. They run into role confusion, unrealistic expectations, lack of control of the situation, unreasonable demands and dysfunctionality at individual level and work set up.
Life lays before us situations in which the lot falls on us to care for, and offer direction, for our colleagues. The healthcare provider often has the intellectual ability, skill and opportunity to provide care. Like David one leads well until those whom you lead and care for turn against you; forgetting that you are human, you have family, you have similar needs and wants, and you suffer similar issues to them.
This invites us to consider – what is the cost of care for our loved ones? What are the knock-on effects of taking care of a loved one? What are the symptoms of caregiver burnout? They are similar to the symptoms of stress and depression, and include:
- Irritability, withdrawal from friends, family and loved ones
- Loss of interest in activities one previously enjoyed
- Feeling weak, lost, irritable, hopeless and helpless
- Changes in appetite, weight and in sleep patterns
- Frequent illness
- Resentment and feelings of wanting to hurt oneself or those one cares for
- Exhaustion (emotional and physical) and irritability
The irony is when healthcare workers go through times of illness they face the adage of ‘physician heal thyself’. Their friends conspire knowingly and unknowingly like Job’s friends which can worsen the situation.
The ministry of encouragement stems from the realisation that we all need to be refreshed when our energies ebb. We need the support of others including from within our teams.
It is notable that in our ‘burnt out’ state there is still some potential to do good, to be generous, to care, to be grateful for the many blessings over our lives. In these we retain an optimistic view of life and do not give up. We become sources of refreshment for others whose reserves are depleted.
However, it is my proposition that in the meantime we must look out for our colleagues who need support. In the healthcare profession these are those who not only care for patients but also have next of kin who require even more care outside of the conventional setups, beyond the times, schedules and confines of clinical care.
That this has physical, emotional, psychological, financial, social strain on them is not in dispute. The management varies depending on the support systems in place. Whole person medicine demands that our team members who have had an incident are taken care of, as tenderly as the patients they themselves take care of, knowing that they are downcast, and heart broken. The COVID-19 pandemic has additionally brought to the fore the import to give care for everyone within and beyond the confines of hospitals. Engaging the bio-physio-psycho-spiritual social and economic domains for our well being is paramount. It is incumbent on us not only to remember the wounded or sick but the caregiver as well. As in battle the soldiers require care and this has never been as urgent as it is now!
Some of the needs of the healthcare giver include having trusted friends, neighbours, co-workers, and colleagues to speak to about their experiences, feelings, frustrations and concerns. They receive help to understand their limits and to set reasonable goals and schedules both for providing care for others and for receiving physical, emotional and spiritual care for themselves.
Kizito Shisanya is a Consultant Surgeon and Lecturer at Kenyatta University, a PRIME Tutor and Advisory Chair for CMF Kenya. This article is reprinted with kind permission from the PRIME newsletter.
