Throwing in the towel: The six most important questions to ask when you want to quit caregiving

I don’t know anyone who feels like they can just up and quit taking care of a loved one who needs it. The very nature of this role is that it’s not something you choose. That doesn’t mean that we don’t often, or even always, wish we could get off the caregiving train. The work’s not fun. It’s unrelenting, hard and requires tremendous sacrifice. 

Often in life, quitting can be a healthy thing to do… ending a toxic relationship, leaving a miserable job or even moving on from a comfortable career so that you can do something more rewarding. But there are also times when we either can’t or don’t really want to stop. We just need to find some way for the pressure, fear and exhaustion to ease up a little. If this is your situation, here are six questions you need to ask yourself.

6 Questions to Ask When You Want to Quit Caregiving | By Anne Tumlinson with Daughterhood

Before You Throw In The Towel Infograph 2024Before-you-throw-in-towel-Downoad.pdf

Caregiver’s Corner | Resources for the Journey 

Overcoming Being Overwhelmed with Difficult Aging Parents

AgingParents.com Founders Dr. Mikol Davis and Nurse-attorney Carolyn Rosenblatt discuss overcoming being overwhelmed in your journey with your aging loved one. You'll learn some tips on managing the care of your elderly parents and reducing your level of stress and burnout.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=O9IFi5VlvoI | 14 minutes

Caregiver Well-Being Available at UK

UK Mental Health Counseling. In-person and telehealth appointments at no cost to you 

Our therapists offer five free counseling sessions per year. 

Choose one who specializes in your concerns. 

https://hr.uky.edu/work-life-and-well-being/mental-health

Rewind | Elder Care Workshop Recording March 2023

Practical Tools for Ending the Caregiver Stress Cycle | 50 Minutes

Presenter: Rhonda Henry, LCSW - UK HR Health & Wellness Mental Health Therapist Everyone feels stress, but caregivers live with additional stressors. Stress is a physical and mental reaction to life experiences. If we are in a chronic state of stress and our stress level remains too high for too long, it can affect both our mental and physical health.