It’s not surprising that professionals in the caregiving industry care. And when we care, we can also face heavy emotions and a lot of stress. 

According to studies conducted by the Ontario Caregiver Organization, more than half of our colleagues are stressed with overall caregiving management (57%), emotional control (55%), and work-life balance (55%). 65% of caregivers mentioned that they need emotional support, however, only 28% of them actually received any resources.

We have to do more, and provide more to all of our caregivers! Here are some small tasks each institution can do to improve the mental health of everyone involved:

Organize social activities regularly!

Work-life balance is salient, especially in the caregiving field. Social activities not only promote better interactions and communication between caregivers but also improve mental health and reduce stress. For example, comedy shows, balls, and more…whatever it takes to have some fun in your daily/weekly routines!

Provide resilience training!

Caregivers often find it difficult to manage their negative emotions and feelings, and experience depression, burnout, etc., therefore learning how to adapt to stressors is critical for mental wellness. This type of training is used in the military to resolve mental issues like stress, and it should be applied in the medical field as well.

Schedule meditation workshops!

One research done at Stanford University School of Medicine found that people who practice mindfulness meditation show fewer stress-related symptoms and declare that they have a greater sense of control over their health and emotions. So just arrange 15 minutes a day for all employees to meditate, and the return will be impressive!

CareStory is always here, supporting you on your caregiving journey. We hope to continue to deliver empathy, promote workplace wellbeing, and raise mental health awareness in the caregiving industry. Stay with us, we won’t let you down.

REFERENCES:
Well-Being Index
Arizona State University

#THERAPEUTICTHURSDAY, Let’s Talk About Mental Health and Insomnia!

“You don’t have to struggle in silence. You can live well with a mental health condition, as long as you open up to somebody about it.” – Demi Lovato
Every Thursday, CareStory will discuss mental health issues that long-term care and hospice caregivers may face.

CareStory is a storyteller.
We empower senior care communities by engaging caregivers, residents & their families through the art of storytelling.
We care with Empathy, and we engage families to empower caregivers.

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