How to Manage Feeling Overwhelmed and Stressed as a Hospice Caregiver

We know exactly what you’re thinking: caring for a loved one in hospice is hard. It’s both an honor and an emotional marathon, one that you don’t always want to reach the “finish line” for. 

As a caregiver, you’re balancing daily tasks, medical needs, and emotional goodbyes. Plus, you’re trying to keep yourself afloat. It’s no wonder so many family caregivers describe feeling overwhelmed, exhausted, and even guilty for needing a break.

The truth is caregiver stress is normal. It doesn’t mean you’re weak or you’re failing. It means you’re human, carrying a heavy load, loving someone deeply through a difficult time. Recognizing and managing that being overwhelmed isn’t selfish…is essential for you and for the person you love.

Why Caregiver Stress Happens

If you’re reading this, you’re probably a caregiver – which means you probably have a running list of all of the things that you need to do for your loved one in the back of your head. Despite taking this moment for yourself, you are carrying so much. Why does this stress happen? Because caregiving asks so much of one person:

• Emotional weight: Watching someone decline while holding space for their comfort and dignity.

• Physical demands: Lifting, repositioning, or assisting with daily care.

• Uncertainty: Not knowing what each day (or even each hour) might bring.

• Isolation: Feeling like no one else fully understands what you’re going through.

  
  

These factors add up, creating what experts call caregiver burnout. Left unaddressed, it can lead to depression, anxiety, or health issues.

Signs of Caregiver Overwhelm

It’s easy to miss the warning signs when you’re focused on someone else. It’s even easier to push these signs away so that you can do more for them. Take this time to check in with your body. Pay attention if you notice:

• Constant exhaustion, even after rest

• Feeling irritable or snapping easily

• Trouble concentrating or making decisions

• Changes in appetite or sleep patterns

• Withdrawing from friends, family, or activities

• A sense of hopelessness

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These are common for caregivers at any point in the hospice journey. However, they are clear signals that your body and mind need care too. Try to take a moment for yourself, even if it’s just a deep breath.

Coping Strategies for Caregiver Stress

1. Give Yourself Permission to Rest

Even a short walk, nap, or moment outside can help reset your nervous system. A moment of self-care shouldn’t be approached as a luxury, it should be seen as an important step in caring for your loved one. 

2. Lean on Hospice Support

Remember, hospice isn’t just for the patient! Social workers, chaplains, and volunteers are there for you too. Ask about respite care for caregivers or local support groups. Check in with your hospice to see what services they provide. 

3. Create Small Routines for Yourself

It can be difficult to make time for yourself when your life currently revolves around someone else's death. But, integrating moments just for yourself into your routine can really help you feel centered. Sip your morning coffee in silence, journal for five minutes, or practice deep breathing before bed. Tiny rituals can anchor you when life feels chaotic.

4. Accept Help (and Ask for It)

If someone offers to cook, run errands, or sit with your loved one just say yes. Caregiving is not meant to be done alone and it’s easy for us to fall into patterns of doing everything on our own. 

5. Talk About Your Feelings

Whether it’s with a trusted friend, a counselor, a support group, or a hospice team member, sharing your emotions lightens the load and helps prevent caregiver burnout.

A Gentle Reminder from Hospice of the Fisher Home

You cannot pour from an empty cup. By tending to your own well-being, you not only protect your health but you show up more fully for the person you love. Hospice is about dignity, comfort, and connection. That applies to caregivers too.

Take a deep breath. You’re doing one of the hardest things a human can do. We are here to support you.

If you are in the Western Massachusetts area and have a loved one who requires hospice care, Hospice of the Fisher Home provides both in-residence or at-home (or wherever you reside) care through our community program. Contact us to find out more. 

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