Burnout- We’ve all heard about it and maybe even experienced it at some point. With so many of us giving our all to our careers and putting our wants and needs in the back seat, burnout has quickly become the state of mind we all know and try to avoid at all costs. Of course, preventing burnout looks different for everybody, and depending on your specific field of work there may be different resources available. But, if you’re a full-time caregiver like me you’re in luck today! I’ve done a little homework and come up with some of the best caregiver resources to prevent the emotional and physical burnout that come with the job.
As much as we love our family, too much time with mom or dad can drive us up a wall. Having another family member or good friend spend time with our loved one for a few hours is a great way to create a little “me time”, but what if your body is telling you that you need an entire weekend away? Fear not- This is exactly what caregiver respite programs are for. Respite programs offer a safe place for mom or dad to stay for a short time while you take care of whatever you need to get done, or just get out of town for a bit. Most respite programs offer medical support for a variety of needs including administering medication and assistance with daily tasks like bathing and eating. It’s always important to check with your respite program to make sure that your loved one qualifies and the program can provide the care your loved one needs.
Respite programs: The National Respite Locator is a great tool to help connect caregivers with local respite programs in their area. Check it out here: https://archrespite.org/respitelocator and if you’re caring for someone aged 60 or older Eldercare Locator can also help find resources in your area: https://eldercare.acl.gov/Public/Index.aspx
From my personal experience, one of the reasons caregiver burnout is so different (and in my opinion worse) than any other burnout I’ve experienced is because the work caregivers do is almost entirely unpaid. There is, however, a solution (sort of). Financial compensation through Medicaid waivers is available for those who qualify with pay rates ranging from minimum wage up to around $15 per hour depending on your location. The application and waiver process do take a bit of time to get through and not every caregiver qualifies but for those who do, having a steady source of income can help relieve some of the financial stress that comes with caregiving. Find your state’s Medicaid site and submit an application here to see if you qualify: https://www.medicaid.gov/
And while we’re on the topic of Medicaid- Are you as a caregiver eligible for medical insurance through Medicaid? Health insurance is extremely expensive when it’s not provided through a company which means full-time caregivers usually find themselves without insurance altogether. Preventing burnout can also look like checking in with your doctor to manage the physical and emotional stress that comes with the job. Medicaid is an inexpensive health insurance option for anybody who doesn’t earn much or is currently unemployed, and can be an invaluable tool for caregivers who don’t qualify for private or affordable healthcare options. Medicaid.gov is a great place to start to check out all of the benefits that may be available to you and your family through this government program.
Caregiving can be an extremely demanding job, but I hope that I’ve made it a little easier for anybody in a similar position as mine by sharing a few widely accessible options to prevent caregiver burnout before it starts. If you are a caregiver struggling to find resources for your specific situation and need help, or if you have another great resource to add to this list please reach out to me at themillennialcaregiverblog@gmail.com to connect!
The Millennial Caregiver 