Author: Ashlee Shefer
Reviewed By: Brindusa Vanta

You can recover from caregiver burnout by prioritizing personal care and seeking help to reduce your physical and emotional symptoms. Although the recovery process looks different for everyone, taking a break from caregiving responsibilities to recharge and focus on your own well-being alleviates stress and improves overall health.

Seek help from a therapist or caregiver support group to learn coping skills and stress management techniques. Taking steps to prioritize your physical, emotional and spiritual health is the best way to alleviate burnout and prevent it from reoccurring. 

How long does it take to recover from caregiver burnout?

How long it takes to recover from caregiver burnout depends on several factors, including the severity and duration of symptoms, whether a support network is available and therapies received. Some people bounce back after having a few days off to sleep, practice self-care and connect with friends or family.

However, if you’ve been experiencing burnout long-term, and/or you lack a reliable support system, you may need more time to recover and improve your well-being. Give yourself adequate time to heal and explore alternative caregiving arrangements for your loved one’s care while resting. 

How to find alternative caregiving arrangements for your loved one during recovery

Stepping back from caregiving duties allows you to focus solely on recovering from burnout. Communicate your needs to trusted family members and friends, and determine whether you can delegate tasks to a single person or create a rotating care schedule. If people from your social network aren’t available, consider hiring a professional caregiver through a home care or home health care agency, depending on your loved one’s needs. You can schedule them to come as often as needed to reduce your workload. 

Additionally, respite care serves as temporary relief for family caregivers, whether it’s for a few hours, a few days or even longer. Medicaid home- and community-based service waivers offer financial support to caregivers in most states, helping them meet their respite needs. Moreover, many long-term care communities, including assisted living and nursing homes, offer respite care services when beds are available.