Q: "How was your day?" A: "Damned if I know."

Earlier this week, CNN ran an article about something that many people working as caregivers, or caring for their own relatives have felt, but never had a name for. Caregiver Syndrome, as reported by CNN, is "a debilitating condition brought on by unrelieved, constant caring for a person with a chronic illness or dementia." (Thanks to Susanna for the link)

As you may have guessed, the occupation of "caregiver" has a very high turn-over/burn-out rate. In the last month, at least seven people have quit their jobs at Russell House, a few of them even having outbursts of anger during the process of leaving the job. According to CNN, "caregiver syndrome" may be at least part of the cause. Many who take on the task of caring for people with Alzheimer's or dementia have reported depression, anxiety, anger, and declining health. All these related to their immersion in a job that requires one to deal with things that most wouldn't dream of doing.

During a typical day as a caregiver, you are intimately involved with people's bodily functions and the most private and vulnerable moments of their day. When Aaron loses control of his bowels while you are changing his clothes, feces falling to the carpet inches away from your shoes, it is hard not to jump back in disgust. Instead, you must look him in the eye and comfort him, relieve his embarrassment, tell him, "Don't worry about it, darlin'. It happens all the time." And that's not a lie. It does.

Alzheimer's is not an easy disease to deal with. At least once a week, I find myself comparing "battle scars" with the other caregivers on the floor. Because when you're giving her a shower, Regina doesn't understand why you're taking off her clothes and then spraying water all over her body, and she doesn't react in a calm manner. She lashes out with her fists and fingernails. Because when you put your arms under Lorraine's and lift her from bed to wheelchair, the first place she thinks to grab and squeeze is the fat under your arms. Because when you try to brush Carl's teeth, he gets upset and bites your finger.

So how do we, as professional caregivers, avoid burnout, or in the worst case scenario, the newly-named "caregiver syndrome"? I believe that we must take some time out each day to give and receive love from our residents. We must remember what makes us love them each individually. And most of all, we must embrace our own lives with as much gusto as those people you meet for the first time everyday.