Church Partnership Newsletter September 2017 | Page 4
6 Signs of Caregiver Burnout
1. I just don't feel like talking to or seeing anyone today—even my
friends and family. If you discover that you consistently don't want
to interact with people, especially close family and friends, it could
be a sign that caring for your elderly loved one is becoming too
draining.
2. I used to really enjoy reading mystery novels, but for some reason,
even a thrilling ‘Whodunit' doesn't seem to hold my interest
anymore.
If your favorite hobbies and pastimes aren't interesting to you
anymore, it may indicate that you need a break from being a caregiver.
3. Sometimes taking care of mom is too much—I feel like I want to end it all. Thoughts of suicide or
hurting your elderly loved one are dangerous warning signs of extreme burnout and probable
depression. You should immediately seek help from a mental health professional if you find
yourself having violent thoughts.
4. I've been eating weirdly lately. Abnormal eating patterns, whether it's eating too much or not
enough might be an indication of extreme stress.
5. I've been sleeping weirdly lately. If you can't seem to fall asleep at night, or have trouble getting
out of bed in the morning, you may be feeling the effects of too much caregiving responsibility.
6. It's been several weeks and I can't seem to shake this cold. Stress can wreak havoc with your
immune system. Illnesses that last longer than they should are a sign of reduced immune system
functioning that could be due to your caregiving duties.
Resource: https://www.agingcare.com/Articles/signs-of-caregiver-burnout-149391.htm
Caregiver Resources
Mount Carmel Church Partnerships:
Caregiver Resource Kit and handouts (contact Marcia or Kate to obtain)
Senior Resources and Programs:
State of Ohio Agency on Aging - http://aging.ohio.gov/home/
Central Ohio Area Agency on Aging – http://www.coaaa.org or (614)645-7250
Legal Help:
Pro Seniors Inc. - http://www.proseniors.org/ or 1800-488-6070
Palliative Care / Respite Care:
Mount Carmel Hospice and Palliative Care – http://www.mountcarmelhealth.com/ or
(614)234-0200
ARCH National Respite and Resource Center - https://archrespite.org/