Stages of Caregiving and Caregiver Burnout
The Florida Area Agency on Aging Pasco and Pinellas counties has some excellent information on caregiving.
According to the article, caregiving is divided into four stages:
Stage One: Getting Started
Recognize the impact of caregiving on your life and family, learn how to be a caregiver, and find out more about the older person who needs care.Stage Two: Finding Help
Accept help from family, friends, place of worship, support groups, and formal services. Learn about help for working caregivers.Stage Three: Heavy Care
Prevent caregiver burnout and injury while providing heavy-duty care, protect your care receiver’s health and safety, and consider facility care.Stage Four: Letting Go
Resolve relationships, complete end-of-life decisions, use Hospice care, let yourself grieve, care for yourself, and have a plan for your life after caregiving has ended.
There’s valuable information about each stage, particularly in the 3rd stage which is “Heavy Care” and caregiver burnout is common.
There’s some great information here, and, I especially like the fact that it acknowledges the stage of letting go, and, making a plan for what to do after caregiving has ended. That part can get forgotten, sometimes.
(via Sometimes I Feel Like a Piece of Bologna)
Hello -
I just read your article about caregiving and end-of-life decisions. Thank you.
I wanted to let you know I am a documentary maker and hospice volunteer in Atlanta, Georgia.
I’ve produced a short documentary about end-of- life decision making, palliative care, caregiving and hospice.
It’s called 203 Days.
You can view it in its entirety at the following University of Connecticut website along with a study guide.
It is an unflinching look at the day-to-day interactions between patient and caregiver, in this case an 89 year old woman who is living with her daughter.
They experience all 4 of the steps you describe.
http://fitsweb.uchc.edu/Days/days.html
203 Days just won the First Place 2007 Film Award from the National Hospice and Palliative Care Organization (NHPCO).
If you’d like more information please go to my website
http://bbarash.com/bb_203days.htm
I hope this film is helpful to people who want to know more about some of the most common experiences for caregiver and patient at this difficult time.
Bailey Barash