Respite Care: 12 Signs You May Be Experiencing Compassion Fatigue
Vancouver Respite Care | November 27, 2018
What Every Caregiver in Vancouver, BC, Needs to Know About Compassion Fatigue and Respite Care
How much do you know about respite care and compassion fatigue? The kind and loving care provided to someone you love and in your care can cause emotional and physical suffering. Symptoms of chronic stress can appear anytime family or friends are in a position of caring for a loved one.
What is Compassion Fatigue?
Even with the best of intentions, caregivers may find caring for a loved one a daunting task. But, what is compassion fatigue? It is a term that refers to the caregiver’s well-being while caring for a loved one who is injured, ill, traumatized or incapacitated. The caregiver’s need for respite care is largely due to the individual’s level of compassion fatigue.
Compassion Fatigue VS Burnout
Compassion fatigue may at first appear to be burnout, but burnout is more predictable, occurring over a lengthy time. Whereas, compassion fatigue may arrive suddenly and unexpectedly.
Burnout can cause some to give up a job, but in the case of compassion fatigue, caregivers can explore self-care to help.
Caregivers must prioritize being refreshed and rejuvenated between shifts or they may suffer agonizing emotional and physical pain. They have to be on the watch for symptoms of stress and use management tools to continue to improve their well-being. Before things get out of hand, caregivers must seek assistance for themselves and their patients.
12 Common Symptoms of Compassion Fatigue:
- Apathy or a lower threshold for compassion or empathy
- Withdrawal, isolation, or feelings of being disconnected
- Feelings of inequity toward the caregiver relationship
- Loss of meaning in caregiving
- Problems arising in other relationships
- Destructive behaviours or substance abuse
- Difficulty sleeping
- Weight loss
- Unexplained headaches
- Anger, irritability, anxiety
- Chronic exhaustion (emotional and physical)
- Feelings of dread, impending disaster or guilt
Respite Care: Relief for Caregivers
Your love and compassion for your charge are not enough to prevent emotional and physical fatigue. At Comfort Keepers®, we know and understand compassion fatigue. We know how demanding the care of a senior can be. We can provide respite care and caregiving services for you, your parent, or a friend in need.
The Best Senior Home Care Provider in Vancouver, BC, is Comfort Keepers®
Many families prefer Comfort Keepers® when arranging senior home care services for a loved one in or around Vancouver, British Columbia.
If you are concerned about the health and well-being of your aging loved ones, we can help with 24-hour care. Comfort Keepers Vancouver also provides home care services like respite care, overnight care, Alzheimer’s disease and dementia care, personal care, and more!
Comfort Keepers® Vancouver Can Help with Companion Care and Interactive Caregiving™
Personal and empathetic care starts in the heart and allows us to meet our clients’ needs. Comfort Keeper’s philosophy is to elevate the human spirit, and our caregivers ensure your loved one experiences a better quality of life.
Trained caregivers help provide our senior clients with personal home care to help maintain the highest possible quality of life, keeping them happy and healthy at home. Our Interactive Caregiving™ delivers a system of care that addresses safety, nutrition, mind, body, and activities of daily living (ADLs).
Bring The Best Home Care Assistance for Seniors Right Where You Live with Comfort Keepers®
Comfort Keepers® Vancouver is proud to provide elder care in homes throughout Vancouver, keeping seniors safe in their homes. We provide home care for the seniors of Vancouver and the surrounding areas of Burnaby, Langley, Maple Ridge, and Richmond. Please call (604) 689-8609.
Personal Care and Senior Homecare in Vancouver, BC
Learn more about our unique service, which offers personal care, companionship care, palliative care, and end-of-life care by contacting the Comfort Keepers® Vancouver office.
Accredited and Quality Respite Care Available 24/7 for British Columbia Families
Accreditation Canada has awarded Comfort Keepers® Vancouver with Exemplary Standing. This designation is only achieved after an organization’s policies, procedures, and processes undergo a thorough evaluation by industry experts to ensure they meet or exceed the stringent quality standards set by Accreditation Canada for Home Care companies.
Individualized Home Care Options
Long-Term Home Care, 24 Hour Home Care & Short Term Care Options Customized for You
