Easing the burden of stress. A stress management program can help eldercare professionals cope

Healthcare professionals in general, and those who care for the elderly in particular, must cope with a number of stressors in the working environment. Moreover, because care givers tend to put others' needs before their own, they often place an added burden of stress on themselves. Eldercare professionals must often forego the reward of finding a cure for their patients. In addition, the persons they care for can sometimes become overly dependent, depressed, unappreciative, self-centered, and demanding. The daily effort to deflect or diffuse this negative energy can take its toll on care givers, leading to coping deficiencies that themselves increase workplace tension and stress. Not only individuals, but entire departments can develop dysfunctional reactions to stress. To break this vicious cycle and improve workplace morale, facilities can implement stress management programs. As part of such a program, supervisors and managers identify stressors in the environment and suggest ways to alleviate or eliminate their effects. Once morale improves, coordinators should shift the program's focus to maintaining employee morale.