Stroke: How can we prevent caregiver burnout?
Jessica Hendrickx, psychologist at the H.U.B., and Géraldine Decrolière, social worker at the H.U.B., support the caregivers of stroke patients on a daily basis. They explain what caregivers go through… and how to help them avoid burnout. Read more
Stroke: when the caregiver becomes the invisible hero
How can you prevent burnout?
We don’t talk enough about them. About those whose lives change overnight because a loved one had a stroke. About those who make appointments, reorganize family life, and stay upright while everything around them collapses. These are the caregivers — the everyday heroes we hardly see, but who carry so much.
Psychologist Jessica Hendrickx and social worker Géraldine Decrolière support them every day. They explain what caregivers go through… and how to prevent exhaustion.
A life turned upside down overnight
“A stroke changes a person. And that changes the whole family,” Géraldine explains.
Modified mobility, comprehension difficulties, language problems, unstable emotions… The caregiver often has to learn to live again with someone who no longer reacts as they used to.
The burden is immense:
- Organizing care
- Almost constant supervision
- Adapting the home
- Managing the patient’s fatigue
- Repeated emotional shocks
And while everyone focuses on the patient, the caregiver often forgets themselves.
Why do caregivers burn out?
It’s not only the physical fatigue from transfers, washing, or meals. It’s also:
- Fear of another stroke
- Sadness at seeing the loved one change
- Frustration of unpredictable days
- Social isolation
- Lack of respite
- Pressure to “do things right”
“The caregiver’s well-being often follows that of the patient. If the patient is doing badly, the caregiver can collapse too,” notes Jessica Hendrickx. Many don’t realize they’re burning out… until their body gives way.
How to recognize signs of exhaustion?
In the body
- Persistent fatigue
- Poor sleep
- Pain, migraines, recurring illnesses
In the heart and mind
- Irritability, anxiety
- More frequent crying
- Loss of motivation
- Guilt
- Loss of self-confidence
In daily life
- Isolation
- Loss of interest in activities they used to enjoy
- Difficulty thinking or concentrating
- Increased use of alcohol or tobacco
- Feeling like they’re no longer themselves
Géraldine adds: “When a caregiver refuses all help, that’s sometimes already a sign they are too tired.”
Real solutions do exist
No family is meant to carry this alone. Here’s what can help:
- Talk about what you feel
With your loved one, with the care team, with a psychologist. Buried emotions drain you.
- Know your limits
“No” is a protective word. You can’t do everything — and that’s okay.
- Ask for help — and accept it
Family, friends, neighbours… Many want to help but don’t know how.
- Surround yourself with professionals
Home care, nurses, family aides, care coordinators.
- Adapt the home environment
Grab bars, assistive devices, adapted chairs: small changes that make a big difference.
- Keep time for yourself
One hour a week, an activity, a moment alone: it’s not a luxury — it’s vital.
- Join a support group
Knowing others are going through the same thing changes everything. You feel less alone.
- See a psychologist
First-line consultations are available at reduced rates. A few sessions can help restore balance.
What support can you access?
- Caregiver associations: information, workshops, support groups
- Home help and care services: family aides, nurses, ergotherapists
- Day centres: patient care one or more days a week to offer respite
- Mobile specialized teams: at-home guidance, advice, adaptations
- Psychologists: partially reimbursed through platforms or insurance
- Social services and health insurance funds: financial support depending on the situation
Even if services are sometimes full, asking remains essential: every bit of support counts.
You are not alone. And you have the right to be helped.
Becoming a caregiver isn’t a choice. It is an act of love. But loving someone doesn’t mean forgetting yourself.
“To help someone well, you need to be well yourself,” Jessica reminds us.
To all caregivers:
- You matter
- You are legitimate
- You deserve support
- You are doing more than you think
To everyone else: a message, a meal, a visit, stepping in for an hour — it can change a caregiver’s life.