Caring for the Caregiver

“Caring is more than an act; it is an attitude. So it covers more than a moment of attention, zeal and care. It represents an attitude of occupation, concern, responsibility and emotional involvement with the other”. (Leonardo Boff)

The psychological suffering inherent to work in the hospital is common to all. The disease defies the sense of control. The family and professionals face the uncertainty associated with the onset and outcome of the disease. Those who are in close contact with the patient and his family in daily life suffer the pressures and tensions of care assistance. In view of the anxieties that arise, what attitudes do we take? How do we deal with our feeling of helplessness in the face of reserved predictions?

Gradually the concern with the need to take care of those who take care has been standing out. The mentality that it is necessary to take care of the caregiver is a preventive action. We understand today that if he is not feeling assisted in his needs, this will reflect and interfere with the service he provides.

The effect of stress is often underestimated by the caregiver, which may reach the limit, where we call “Burnout Syndrome” which is defined by some authors as one of the most striking consequences of professional stress. Below we mention some of the signs of Burnout:

• Exhaustion, tiredness, feeling physically exhausted.
• Anger at requests and demands.
• Cynicism, negativism, irritability.
• Persecutory ideas.
• Weight gain or loss.
• Headaches and frequent gastro-intestinal symptoms.
• Insomnia.
• Depression.
• Tolerance threshold lowered in everyday situations.
• Shortness of breathe.
• Feeling of helplessness.
• Little attention when faced with risky situations.

The term Burnout is a composition of burn = burning and out = external, thus suggesting that the person with this type of stress is consumed physically and emotionally.

This syndrome refers to a type of occupational and institutional stress with a predilection for professionals who maintain a constant and direct relationship with other people, especially when this activity is considered to be of help. In the most serious cases, the suffering presented by these people can lead to permanent incapacity in the face of the act of caring, with all its professional, economic and social implications and consequences. 

Objective

The project “Caring for the Caregiver” aims to provide the teams of assistance to patients and their families in suffering a continent space for group discussion, favoring the sharing of experiences related to the cases attended and the expression of feelings of these experiences. Improving communication, coping and perception of individual needs and appropriate referrals.

Methodology of work

Institutions interested in hiring Casa do Cuidar for this project, should get in touch by email. Care for the Caregiver offers lectures and experiential classes suggested over 6 weeks (for institutions in São Paulo) or in 2 or 3 weekends (for institutions outside São Paulo).

The presentations of lectures are aimed at sensitizing health professionals to stressful situations experienced inside and outside the work environment and that can contribute directly or indirectly to care activities. The program is be aimed at the professionals who work directly with patients and families specially in Palliative Care.