What are the signs of caregiver burnout?
Persistent exhaustion, poor sleep, irritability, skipping one's own medical care, withdrawing from friends, and feeling trapped are common signs; a caregiver who starts to feel resentment or hopelessness needs relief now, not after the next crisis.
Caregivers of people with dementia are especially at risk because the work is constant and the person may not recognize the help. Tell your own doctor what you are carrying; caregiving stress is a medical issue.
What respite options exist for Memphis caregivers?
For TennCare CHOICES members in Groups 2 and 3, the benefit table lists up to 216 hours a year of in-home respite and up to nine days a year of inpatient respite in a nursing home or ACLF, plus adult day care up to 2,080 hours a year.
For families outside TennCare, many ACLFs accept short respite stays for a daily rate, adult day programs give regular weekday breaks, and OPTIONS for Community Living can add homemaker or personal care hours on a sliding fee.
Who helps Memphis caregivers for free?
The Aging Commission of the Mid-South, the Area Agency on Aging and Disability for Shelby, Fayette and Tipton counties, offers caregiver services, in-home help and CHOICES screening through its Information and Assistance line at (901) 222-4111.
TN SHIP (1-877-801-0044) can review Medicare plans for lower costs. If a caregiver is overwhelmed to the point that the older adult is at risk of neglect, Adult Protective Services (1-888-277-8366) can also connect families to services.
How can a caregiver plan for an emergency of their own?
Write a one-page care plan listing medications, doctors, daily routine, insurance and who to call, give copies to a backup caregiver, and arrange in advance where your parent would go if you were suddenly hospitalized.
Some ACLFs and nursing homes will pre-screen a parent for short-term respite so an emergency stay can begin quickly. Knowing that option exists makes it easier for a caregiver to take care of their own health.
Is it a failure to move a parent into assisted living or a nursing home?
No. Moving a parent into licensed care is often what lets a family caregiver return to being a son, daughter or spouse instead of a full-time aide, and many families find visits become better once hands-on care is shared.
Stay involved after the move: attend care plan meetings, visit at different times, and keep the facility's survey reports and your parent's service plan on file.
Sources include Tenn. Comp. R. & Regs. chapters 0720-26, 0720-21 and 0720-18, Health Facilities Commission and TennCare pages, CareScout and VA rate tables as cited above; see our editorial standards.
