I recently took a survey called the “Caregiver Burden Survey”, also known as the Zarit Burden Interview, that was developed forty years ago to help professionals and caregivers better understand the stresses they face. It is a quick questionnaire with a five-point scale that asks not about what you are doing but how you feel about what you are doing. Included with the assessment is a breakdown of what the different scores mean and suggestions of things to look for at each level of burden. The last page lists resources that were added following a 2013 Scandinavian study looking at what is needed to “unburden” a caregiver.

I had a copy of the survey for over a year before I finally decided to take it. I am not sure what I was afraid of, why I kept putting it off. Perhaps I thought that my burden was so small it wouldn’t even register. Or, perhaps I was worried that I would find out things were worse that I thought and I might need to take some sort of action. It took me about 20 minutes to answer the questions and I really had to think about a few of them. I learned that I am on the cusp of moving from the lowest level called “Little to No Burden” into the next level which is “Mild to Moderate Burden”. Not bad for being in my twelfth year as CarePartner for someone with Parkinson’s Disease.

Whatever my initial concerns were, now that I have completed the survey I am thankful for the clarity it brings to my role. There is a sense of relief in knowing that my feelings matter and should be recognized. It is also validating to see that many of the suggestions they make to avoid burn-out are things that I am already doing. My plan now is to revisit the questionnaire every six months to help me recognize how things are progressing. This survey will enable me to be aware of where I am in my journey so I can better understand and care for my own mental health.

For your own copy of the survey, visit Caregiver Burden Assessment on the AgingCare.com website.