While family caregiving is a rewarding experience, it also brings about challenges that can make caregivers feel overwhelmed, anxious, and burned out. With National Friendship Day (July 30th) and National Relaxation Day (August 15th) this summer, it is the perfect prescription to find time for some caregiver self-care.
According to a study conducted by the AARP and the National Alliance for Caregiving (NAC), there are more than 53 million Americans providing unpaid caregiving. While family caregiving can be a rewarding experience, caregivers can face unexpected challenges that can leave them feeling anxious, overwhelmed, and/or restless.
Why do some caregivers experience high levels of gratification and positive return, but others experience burnout and stress from caregiving? When examining these two outcomes, it is important to recognize an important factor: resilience.