What are the signs of caregiver burnout?

No longer taking part in activities you once enjoyed. Withdrawing from friends and family. Denial about the severity of the family member’s illness. Increased levels of anxiety and fatigue. Changes in appetite, weight. Changes in sleeping patterns. Getting upset more quickly than normal. Feeling down, irritable, hopeless and helpless. Getting sick more often. Lack of concentration.

What are the possitive effects of being a caregiver?

The caregiving experience has many positive benefits to be enjoyed. Perhaps the most often reported benefit is a sense of giving back to someone who has cared for the caregiver in the past, such as a parent. Caregiving also connects you on a deeper level with your loved one, no matter how close you are already. Caregivers feel the satisfaction of knowing that their loved one is getting excellent care, and many feel a sense of increased meaning and purpose in their life. Some caregivers also feel good about modelling caregiving behaviour as a positive experience for their children.