Back in July, Kathleen Downes wrote about burnout among people who need care. Most people require care at some point in their lives. However, rarely do people talk about how frustrating and exhausting it can be to need help with everyday activities.
An internet search about caregiver burnout will bring up thousands of results. Burnout in caregivers is characterized by physical, emotional, and mental exhaustion. Caregiver burnout may also be accompanied by a shift in attitude, according to Cleveland Clinic.
Imagine hiring a perfect stranger to help you get dressed, showered, and use the restroom. For many disabled people, this is a reality of their lives. Sometimes, I wonder what it would be like to shower and get dressed with complete privacy.
Throughout my school years, I had a paraprofessional who assisted me during the day. I was fortunate to have the same paraprofessional for a decade. We became close and we still keep in touch. Whenever she was out sick or couldn’t come to work, I would become anxious. I didn’t have any choice in who was my paraprofessional during my school years.
My senior year of high school I had a paraprofessional who I wasn’t particularly fond of. I felt like I was a burden to her. One day during my Spanish class she scolded me when I asked to use the restroom as it wasn’t my usual time to go.
Typically, I used the restroom after lunch. After that, I didn’t ask to use the restroom for the rest of the school year. I didn’t want to get frustrated during the last few weeks of my senior year. I wanted to stay focused on final exams, and preparing for college.
I enjoy being alone with my thoughts whenever I get the rare opportunity to do so. There are few things I enjoy more than watching TV with my bedroom door closed or reading a book on my iPad using Bookshare. Nobody can criticize my choice to watch Forensic Files, Big Bang Theory, or Unsolved Mysteries on repeat.
Nobody wonders why I want to read articles about Major League Baseball, The Pittsburgh Penguins, or history when I am by myself. It is refreshing not to have somebody question me about every mundane decision.
Cerebral Palsy means that I am at the mercy of everyone around me sometimes. My disability doesn’t mean I am stripped of my autonomy. Disabled people deserve to make their own decisions because we are human.
Sources
“Caregiver Burnout; Causes, Symptoms & Prevention.” Cleveland Clinic, 13 Jan. 2019, my.clevelandclinic.org/health/diseases/9225-caregiver-burnout.
Downes, Kathleen “When Are We Going to Talk about Care Recipient Burnout?” The Squeaky Wheelchair , 1 July 2023, http://www.thesqueakywheelchairblog.com/2023/07/when-are-we-going-to-talk-about-care.html?m=1.