Patient Decision Aid
Stress in Caregivers of Older Adults
Options to Limit Stress in Caregivers of Older Adults
Introduction
Who and why?
Priorities
Clarification exercise
Options
Explore the options
Decision
Make an informed choice
Profile
Summary of my process
Introduction
Who and why?
Caregiver stress
- Caregiving consists of taking on an unpaid caring role for a person who has lost their mobility, their ability to care for themselves, or their ability to undertake other essential tasks such as using the phone or managing their money.
- While fulfilling, caregiving requires time and energy, and can be demanding and stressful.
- As a caregiver, it is important to pay attention to warning signs of stress: feelings of anger, anxiety, depression, exhaustion, lack of sleep or concentration, health problems, or social withdrawal.
Taking your priorities into account
Depending on your priorities, you may or may not decide to make a change. The choice is up to you because...
- There are several options to reduce your stress. These options can cause benefits or harms. It is difficult to predict how they will work for you.
- Several factors may limit your ability to decrease your stress.
- You can decide to give up your role as caregiver: this may cause other stressful situations, but it is also one of your options.
- Choosing a support option or waiting before making a change (also called "watchful waiting") are both acceptable options .
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We recommend that...
- The decision take into account the person’s values and priorities.
- The decision is shared among the healthcare professional, the person and, if necessary, the caregiver.
