Caregiving and Mental Health: Addressing the Emotional Well-being of Caregivers
Authored by Mr. Rahul Misra, Founder, Vesta Elder Care
Caregivers are those untold heroes who work tirelessly and dedicate themselves to the well-being of others. Be it taking care of a baby, an ill individual or an elderly, caregivers are the center of it. Their role plays an important part in making this world a better place. But often while committing to everyone’s well-being, their mental and emotional well-being goes unnoticed. The two major challenges a caregiver faces are finding time and energy to take care of themselves.
In this article, we will address the emotional well-being of caregivers and how they can focus on their well-being without putting any hassle onto their work.
The Emotional Pressure that Goes Behind Caregiving
Caregiving is not about just taking care of an individual but is about taking numerous responsibilities for that one particular individual. Starting from physical well-being to mental health, a caregiver has to take care of everything. This can often take a toll on the mental health of the caregiver leading to feelings like guilt, anxiety and sometimes even depression. Balancing both their own needs and the demands of caregiving can be quite challenging.
The Constant Struggle of Isolation and Dilema
One of the most concerning and silent struggles a caregiver goes through is the constant sense of isolation. The work of a caregiver often limits their ability to socialize or maintain a regular social routine. Due to this many caregivers tend to feel detached from the outside world, leading to self-doubt, emotional burden and an increase in stress and feelings of loneliness.
How Does a Caregiver Overcome These Issues?
Recognise your Issues & the Need for Self-care:
In order to focus on the well-being of caregivers, it is important to first understand how important self-care is. The majority of the caregivers neglect their own needs and focus on providing the best care to the individual they are assigned to. It is important to take breaks, talk to people who comfort you and engage in activities that bring happiness. Doing these can help caregivers overcome the challenges they face.
Even Caregivers Should Get Professional Help:
Sometimes the emotional baggage can get too much for caregivers which can often lead to disturbances in the professional life. Counseling therapists and counselors who have expertise in understanding issues caregivers face can be beneficial for a caregiver as they can open themselves up and efficiently explore and manage their emotions. Therapy can help caregivers with coping mechanisms, stress management techniques, and strategies for maintaining a healthy balance between caregiving responsibilities and self-care.
Employer Recognition and Workplace Support:
Many caregivers juggle between caregiving and professional responsibilities. So, recognizing the challenges and struggles they go through every day and offering support like implementing supportive workplace policies can help them work through their emotional well-being. Some initiatives like remote working and flexible work hours can help caregivers balance both their professional and caregiving responsibilities.
Policy Advocacy for Caregiver Well-being:
At a broader level, advocating for policies that support caregivers is essential. Policies that address issues such as paid family leave, affordable healthcare, and respite care services can significantly ease the burden on caregivers. By recognizing the societal importance of caregiving and implementing supportive measures, we can contribute to the overall well-being of those who dedicate their lives to caring for others.
Caregivers are the unsaid heroes of our society and it is important to make sure that the emotional well-being of our unsaid heroes are not overlooked. By acknowledging the emotional strain of caregiving, fostering support networks, promoting self-care, and advocating for policies that recognize the value of caregiving, we can collectively contribute to the mental health and overall well-being of those who devote themselves to the care of others. In doing so, we not only honor the invaluable contributions of caregivers but also ensure that they receive the support they need to navigate the challenging journey of caregiving.
Dr. Prateek Bhardwaj is the COO of Vesta Elder Care. a physiotherapist by profession and Prateek joined the Vesta team at its time of inception. His years of experience have enriched Vesta to become a service-oriented organization and have guided the team through its many milestones