Caregiver Stress Checklist

When caring for someone with a life limiting illness you may be putting your own health at risk. Your journey as a caregiver will include many twists and turns, and at times can be stressful. Because your loved one depends on you, your health and well-being are important.

Feelings to consider on your journey:

• Feel like you have to do it all yourself and/or that you should be doing more?
• Withdraw from family, friends and activities that you previously enjoyed?
• Worry that the person you care for is safe?
• Feel anxious about money?
• Feel anxious about healthcare decisions you are being faced with?
• Having difficulty accepting the impact of the disease and its effects on your family?
• Feel grief or sadness that your relationship with the person is not what it was in the past?
• Get frustrated and angry when the person with dementia continually repeats things or stories?
• Having you developed your own health problems that are taking a toll on you mentally and physically?

If you are experiencing a few, or many of the above feelings, please feel free to contact your local Grace Hospice for ideas on how to gain support.