Caregiver burnout is a state of physical, emotional, and mental exhaustion that develops when the demands of caregiving chronically exceed a person's resources and recovery. Warning signs include persistent fatigue, irritability or resentment toward the person cared for, withdrawal from friends, sleep and appetite changes, frequent illness, and a sense that nothing you do is enough. Recognizing burnout early matters for two people: the caregiver's own health, and the quality and safety of the care they can give. Burnout is a signal that the caregiving system needs more support — it is never a personal failure, and naming it is the first step toward relief.
Caregiver burnout is physical, emotional, and mental exhaustion that builds when caregiving demands chronically exceed a person's resources. This lesson teaches the warning signs that separate burnou…