The requirements of a constant caregiver require a strength and capacity for caring that stretches even those with the most generous holiday spirit. At some point in our lives most of us will become caregivers for aging parents or aging or disabled loved ones. Often this role comes on without warning or preparation. When a parent or loved one becomes in need of long-term care, relationships shift. A parent may come to seem like a child.
Chronic depression displaces good spirits in a formerly fun-loving partner.
Physical and emotional limitations place you into a new and confusing relationship with a loved one. Few people have the training of a hospice nurse. In the face of these overwhelming issues, many caregivers expose themselves to repeated stress without any relief. They forget to take breaks and vacations or do other things that replenish their batteries, like exercise, massage, and meditation. They experience burnout, a feeling of depersonalization and general futility regarding life.