Carer Stress & Guilt

Looking after our siblings, parents, grandparents and great grandparents can be as challenging as it is rewarding. For many families, the pressure of work and financial concerns means caring for your family members can be increasingly difficult. Family members can take on an enormous burden of care which can start to impact their physical and mental health. Worse, the feelings of guilt in not being able to look after your loved ones can impact you significantly. These feelings are not uncommon and can lead to delays in making decisions which can adversely impact the very person you care about. Worse, continuing to support someone may exert a physical and mental toll on you, causing your health to deteriorate. Again, this is not uncommon and can herald a crisis, where if you were to become sick, your loved one may have to go to hospital, respite care or even permanent residential aged care. Preventing such occurrences is essential for us and having an open discussion about aims, objectives and feelings of guilt can help in making appropriate plans for the future, taking into account the emotions that drive delayed decision making.

We understand the challenges faced by carers in looking after our loved ones. We understand the time involved as well as how exhausting it can be both physically and mentally. When we see our seniors at The Salus Clinic, we focus on both the patient and the family, ensuring that if there is increasing stress in the family or carers, we can explore strategies to minimise this stress and support everyone. Every family is different; we listen to what you need and find solutions.