OccupationalTherapy.com Phone: 866-782-9924


Prevention Of Burnout For Pediatric Caregivers

Patti Sharp, OTD, MS, OTR/L

July 18, 2016

Share:

Question

How do I prevent burnout of caregivers over time?

Answer

I try to promote respite care as much as possible. I see so many caregivers lose their sense of self. The ones that commit fully, and dive in as caregiver to the child 24/7, are the ones that burn out. They're the ones that can't offer anything to the child anymore. They become myopic and only focus on what the child doesn't have. I encourage them get babysitters so they can have date nights with their spouse, or go out with friends. I often encourage them to go to a nearby university and see if they can get respite from OT students, who would love to get experience just being with their children, even for an hour. It doesn't always work, but that's what I aim for.


patti sharp

Patti Sharp, OTD, MS, OTR/L

Dr. Patti Sharp is an occupational therapist with 17 years of pediatric experience. She has practiced in several specialty areas, including burns, neurorehabilitation, brachial plexus injury, cerebral palsy, and aquatic OT. She is a Certified Instructor for the Cognitive Orientation approach to Occupational Performance (CO-OP) method and leads the Developmental Coordination Disorder (DCD) clinical specialty team at Cincinnati Children’s Hospital. Patti is also adjunct instructor at the University of Cincinnati and is passionate about sharing knowledge with colleagues, students, patients, and families.


Related Courses

Continued Conversations, The CE Podcast: Functional Goal Setting in Pediatrics
Presented by Patti Sharp, OTD, MS, OTR/L
Audio

Presenter

Patti Sharp, OTD, MS, OTR/L
Course: #4414Level: Introductory1 Hour
  'Highlighting the importance of functional goals and the process of reflecting'   Read Reviews
This course reviews the role of goal-setting in occupational therapy practice. The presenter and host attempt to reconcile differences between their own professional experience with goal-setting, historical precedent, current practice, and current evidence-based recommendations.

Comprehensive Management of Developmental Coordination Disorder
Presented by Patti Sharp, OTD, MS, OTR/L
Video

Presenter

Patti Sharp, OTD, MS, OTR/L
Course: #3674Level: Intermediate2 Hours
  'Everything was explained in a clear and organized manner'   Read Reviews
This course is designed to help occupational therapists identify, screen, assess, and treat children with coordination and motor planning difficulties. Recommendations are based on the most recent clinical and neuroimaging research available.

Continued Conversations, The CE Podcast: Evidence-Based Interventions in Pediatric Occupational Therapy
Presented by Patti Sharp, OTD, MS, OTR/L
Audio

Presenter

Patti Sharp, OTD, MS, OTR/L
Course: #4461Level: Intermediate1 Hour
  'Love the focus on evidence-based practice! This is fantastic'   Read Reviews
This course presents a discussion about the role and importance of evidence-based practice. The conversation is centered around a landmark systematic review (Novak & Honan, 2019) which provides new recommendations for the use of OT interventions in pediatrics.

Cerebral Palsy Review: Clinical Presentation, Evaluation, And Diagnosis
Presented by Patti Sharp, OTD, MS, OTR/L, BCP
Video

Presenter

Patti Sharp, OTD, MS, OTR/L, BCP
Course: #5515Level: Introductory1.5 Hours
  'I learned what assessments are used to test for CP and how many individuals will eventually be able to walk with cerebral palsy'   Read Reviews
Cerebral Palsy (CP) is the most common physical disability in children, affecting 1-4 out of every 1,000 live births around the world. Information on etiology, early warning signs, evaluation, and diagnosis of children with CP will be reviewed. Various CP classifications will be discussed, as well as recommendations for assessment tools.

Cerebral Palsy Review: Medical And Therapy Management
Presented by Patti Sharp, OTD, MS, OTR/L, BCP
Video

Presenter

Patti Sharp, OTD, MS, OTR/L, BCP
Course: #5516Level: Introductory1.5 Hours
  'Well-organized, dynamic presentation, and knowledgeable instructor'   Read Reviews
Cerebral Palsy (CP) is the most common physical disability in children, affecting 1-4 out of every 1,000 live births around the world. Evidence-based medical, surgical, and therapeutic interventions are recommended for use with children with CP to facilitate improved functional participation and will be discussed in this course.

Our site uses cookies to improve your experience. By using our site, you agree to our Privacy Policy.