When doing some research about senior topics and trends we came across something we very rarely talk about. We spend so much time talking about seniors that we never touched on the topic of caregivers. We are hearing a lot of buzz about caregivers and the care that they are receiving. Many caregivers are putting themselves before the people they are caring for.

When we first heard the term we thought Caregiver Burnout was just a term that had been made up by a caregiver blogger or group of people. But Caregiver Burnout is a term that is used by a numerous amount of organizations such as Cleveland Clinic, WebMd and even has its own ICD-10 code to define itself on medical records or medical billing (ICD-10 code Z63.6). Cleveland Clinic defines Caregiver Burnout as “a state of physical, emotional and mental exhaustion. It may be accompanied by a change in attitude, from positive and caring to negative and unconcerned. Burnout can occur when caregivers don’t get the help they need, or if they try to do more than they are able, physically or financially.” It can also go by the name Caregiver Stress Syndrome.

Caregiver Burnout as “a state of physical, emotional and mental exhaustion. It may be accompanied by a change in attitude, from positive and caring to negative and unconcerned.

The definition hit us hard and so many faces came to mind. We serve thousands of seniors and hundreds of them have children who are their caregiver or a paid caregiver. They go in everyday to make sure that they are fed, clothed, bathed and taken care of, all the things that we take for granted. They put their heart into taking care of a person that when the day is over they feel as if they are emotionally drained and have nothing else left to give to their families or themselves, which just breaks out heart.

At DSCC we know that our volunteers come everyday to try to help in every way possible. Whether it is through our Home Delivered Meal Service or our Friendly Visits & Assistance Service. These are our services that are available to help a caregiver get a break or to ensure an adult child caregiver that there is someone to check on mom and dad while they are at work. We are here to help caregivers get a break or give them the support they deserve in order to avoid Caregiver Burnout.

Every day we get calls from adult children caregivers who are the primary caregivers for elderly parents or grandparents who still live alone. They tell us their story and struggle of having to care for themselves, their family and their elderly loved one. The amount of caregivers who have missed children’s concerts or are in jeopardy of losing their jobs because of being the primary caregiver is high. When a caregiver hears that we offer well-being checks along with a hot meal, on the other end of the phone we can hear the sigh of relief. Our mission has evolved into so much more than helping older adults age in place, we are now helping families grow in place within our community. DSCC is always there to help a senior and their family feel safe, secure and have peace of mind, that is why we are proud to provide services for all our seniors.  

If any caregiver feels like the stress of caring for someone is too much and they can not go on any longer please call Home Health Hotline at 800-642-6552.