I have heard that being a caregiver requires sacrificing emotions, feelings, and time for the well-being of the individual who is the client. Does this mean that caregivers have to accept and allow poor behaviors by those who he/she is providing service. There is a growing number of individuals who are choosing to be paid caregivers for a family member. The main reason for the family member agreeing to be the caregiver is to make sure their loved one is cared for appropriately and not abused or taken advantage of by a stranger, which is a great family connection.
However, I wonder if those who are suffering and in need of physical and medical assistance is losing empathy for those who have accepted the role of caregiver? I can empathize that it’s a hard struggle to accept that life will not be the way it was before suffering a debilitating physical or mental health diagnosis. Does that justify the lack of compassion sometime displayed toward caregivers? I have heard stories of caregivers being physically and verbally abused by his/her client.
I have also heard stories of caregivers being falsely accused of stealing or physically harming the client. I am not saying that does not happen, because I have heard stories about those traumatizing incidents as well. I am saying that when it is not true and the care giver is abused by the client, is that okay because the client has a physical or mental health concern? Should the caregiver be able to express to the family or management of his/her agency that he/she is being abused by the client?
Do they have to suffer in silence because he/she is the provider of service and should expect physical or verbal violence because the client is suffering in some form of pain? Family member or stranger, a caregiver should not be expected to suffer in silence from physical or verbal abuse by a client.
Voices of Burnout (VOB) 