How To Cope When Caregiving Impacts Your Relationships?

Assisted Living

We may have different expectations regarding the challenges that a caregiving role can bring, like difficulty managing the medical requirements of a loved one or transporting them to day services and appointments. However, there can also be social impacts on caregivers. Adjusting expectations for family gatherings, or dealing with changes in relationship dynamics are some of the ways in which caregiving can go beyond helping a loved one.

Senior care experts in our assisted living facility share some ways in which relationships with friends and family outside can be affected by caregiving and tips on coping with the changes.

Lack Of Understanding

It can be very frustrating to deal with the reactions of people close to you who do not understand the reality of what you and your senior loved one are going through and need to do. Some of these are:

Caregiver Criticism: People can tell you what you should be doing for your senior loved one without understanding what is realistically possible or what your senior loved one needs. Understand that some feedbacks are well intended. Also, the person you are speaking with might understand when you help them to understand the reality.

Expecting Too Much From Your Loved One: People might be disappointed and may even blame you when your senior loved one is not participating in activities that they used to enjoy. They might not understand the limitations of your senior loved one and misunderstand that you are not trying to help your loved one participate in activities. In such a situation, you can try to explain the condition of your senior loved one and his or her limitations.

Expecting Too Little From Your Loved One: People can also expect too little from their senior loved one and you. They may exclude your loved one and you from family gatherings and events assuming that they are unable to participate. People can also assume that your senior loved one is embarrassed about their condition and wish to hide the same from others. Moreover, they themselves can feel unsure and uncomfortable about how to act around their senior loved one and may try to avoid such situations.

As a primary caregiver of a loved one, it can be really heartbreaking to be excluded from family gatherings and events. The caregiving responsibilities can be challenging on their own, and feeling isolated can add to the stress and may trigger caregiver burnout. There can be people who are unable to or may be unwilling to understand your situation. It is important to understand when it is time to cut ties and hold on to people who respond to your situation with understanding.