We’ve all started DIY home projects that spiral into disasters. You think, “Why should I pay someone for help when I can handle it myself?” Then things don’t go as planned. It ends up taking more time, money, and patience than you’d hoped for—all because you didn’t get help.

If you’re caring for your spouse or loved one, you might have a DIY mindset but you’re experiencing burnout. Below are three effective ways to cope with the stress of caregiving, and turn a daunting task into a manageable one:

First, How to avoid isolation

Many dedicated caregivers focus so much on caring for their spouses they neglect caring for themselves. As a result, they spend less time engaging with friends and family, and they become more socially isolated. Also, spousal caregivers are more likely to experience depression than caregivers who aren’t spouses.¹

Avoid isolation using these ideas:

• Connect with others who are caring for a spouse
  Find and connect with other spousal caregivers. They may have similar challenges and you can provide emotional and social support to each other.
• Join a support group—online or in-person
  A support group can provide validation and encouragement, as well as problem-solving strategies for difficult situations. People in support groups understand what you’re going through. These groups can also be a good place to create meaningful friendships. More than a quarter of caregivers seek support on an online forum right after they begin caring for their loved ones. By the end of their first year of caregiving, nearly half of them have turned to an online community for assistance. Below are some sites that provide information about support groups, in-person and online.
  
• In-person support groups:
  • Well Spouse Association is a national organization made up of spousal caregivers coping with a broad range of medical conditions
  • Eldercare.gov offers resources for free caregiver counseling and support groups
• Online support groups:
  • AgingCare.com has a section on their site where you can connect with elder-care experts and family caregivers
  • Caring.com offers caregiving tips, advice, and support
  • Family Caregiver Alliance Caregivers can share, interact, and learn from each other
• Find new friends
  Take time to go places or do things you enjoy. If you like to read, consider joining a book club. You could also join a gym or take a fitness or sports class: golf, tennis, tai chi. The more it involves contact with other people, the better. Meetup.com can help connect you with people in your area who have similar interests.

Second, How to Get Help With the Jobs of Caregiving

Let’s face it, it’s not easy to ask for help. Many spousal caregivers are reluctant to ask family and friends for help because they don’t want to inconvenience them. Caregivers also tend to give others the impression that they’re doing fine, masking the need for help. Usually family and friends are willing to help but don’t realize you need it. Be honest with yourself. If you need help, ask family and friends for it clearly and directly, or consider hiring professional help.

• Tips to get help from family and friends
  Caring for an aging adult is more effective using a team approach. Try these tips to get help from family or friends:
  • Start with a one-on-one conversation
    
  • Be specific about tasks they need help with
    
  • Make sure the person understands what would be most helpful for both you and the caregiving recipient
  • Ask the person if they’d like to help, and if so, in what way

  For additional tips to request help from family, check out the DailyCaring article “4 Ways To Get Family To Help With Aging Parents.”

• Get help from paid support
  Spousal caregivers tend to feel less comfortable hiring professionals to provide care for their loved ones. Common concerns about professional caregivers include:
  • They won’t care about their loved one
  • They might steal
  • They aren't affordable
  • Many caregiving spouses feel they should manage things on their own

If you can afford it, consider hiring an aide to help with cleaning the house, cooking meals, running errands, or providing nursing services—whatever will lighten your workload.

You can also consider hiring a geriatric care manager who can assist you with making financial decisions, managing medical needs, housing, and ensuring the safety of your loved one.

Third, How to Get Relief With Respite Care

From time to time, we all need a break from the daily grind, especially if you’re caring for a spouse. Most spousal caregivers spend an average of 36 hours a week providing care.¹ Respite care simply means someone else takes care of your spouse, while you take time for yourself. Unfortunately, many caregivers don’t take advantage of this service. Fifty-five percent of the spousal caregivers surveyed get no outside help at all from family, friends, or home health aides.²

Respite care can be provided at home by a friend, another family member, a volunteer, or by paid services in a care setting, such as adult daycare or a residential facility.

Spousal caregivers come up with lots of reasons to resist the idea of respite care, including guilt, money, busy schedules, and reluctance to change their loved one’s routine, which increases the likelihood of burnout.

If you’re resistant to the idea of respite care, consider that:

• Respite is good for you and your loved one
• Being too busy to track down a respite care provider is a sign that you need a break
• A break now can ward off burnout later
• Respite care is often covered by insurance or an agency such as the Department of Veterans Affairs or Medicare

Here are some resources to help you find respite options in your area:

• Care.com
• National Association of Area Agencies on Aging
• Department of Veterans Affairs
• ARCH National Respite Network and Resource Center’s National Respite Locator