The Dos and Don’ts of Being a PCA: Don’t Try to Do Too Much

As any medical professional will tell you, proving health care is a lot of work. As a personal care assistant you have likely experienced this first-hand. From early morning medication assistance to late night emergency calls, it’s easy to become overwhelmed by everything there is to do. This feeling of being overworked will only get worse the more home care patients you are responsible for.

It should come as no surprise that caregiver burnout is one of the most common ailments faced by home care specialists today. According to WebMD, caregiver burnout is “a state of physical, emotional, and mental exhaustion that may be accompanied by a change in attitude -- from positive and caring to negative and unconcerned.” The accompanying feelings of fatigue, stress, anxiety, and depression are most often caused by a home care provider trying to do more than they are capable of.

So How Can I Avoid Caregiver Burnout?

• Be Realistic – Set realistic expectations for your daily home care services and be okay waiting till tomorrow to finish a non-essential tasks.
• Have a Schedule – Establish a realistic home health care plan every week that includes when you will arrive and when you will leave. Then stick to it!
• Ask For Help – Be willing to seek out assistance for in home supportive services if you start feeling overwhelmed.
• Take Time for Yourself – Schedule time each week to do something you enjoy and make it a priority.

While it’s wise to prioritize your patient’s home health, you must remember that if you aren’t healthy your home care services will suffer as a result. Make a plan to avoid caregiver burnout so you can keep providing the best home care possible to your patients.

Contact Best Home Care or visit our Support for Caregivers page for more tips on how to avoid caregiver burnout and stay healthy while providing home care.

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