Your responsibilities as a caregiver of a loved one with Alzheimer's may range from managing finances to managing behavioral changes, to getting your loved one dressed for the day.
Handling such a variety of duties can be very hard work.
However, by learning such care giving skills, you are making sure that your loved one feels as safe and secure as possible.
It is also important that you take care of yourself and your own well-being.
Caring for a loved one with dementia or any other disease that involves dementia can be extremely stressful and time-consuming.
A care giver can do many other things to help the patient while also reducing the sometimes overwhelming burden that goes along with caregiving: Be Informed - Knowledge is empowering.
The better educated you are about Alzheimer's disease and the signs and symptoms of dementia, the better able you will be to deal with challenges that will most likely arise.
Share Your Concerns With Your Loved One -- An individual with early stage dementia and who is only moderately impaired will be able to assist somewhat in his or her own care.
Create memory aides and other strategies that may be very useful to the individual with dementia, as well as to the caregiver.
This may be easier said than done, but may actually be a relief to your loved one.
It will encourage conversation about the problems at hand and will most likely make you both feel better about reaching some sort of solution.
That being said, it is vitally important to understand that the patient you are dealing with, if they are still in touch with reality, will more than likely be in some stage of denial.
Take One Problem At A Time - Problems may seem insurmountable at times.
Try to focus on one problem at a time.
You don't have to solve them all at once and trying to do so will only lead to a feeling of being overwhelmed.
Be Creative - Your ability to adapt is one of the main keys to coping with Alzheimer's.
If you aren't able to solve a problem one way, try another approach.
For instance, if the individual insists on eating with his or her hands, don't fight it--try building as many meals around finger foods, as possible.
Encourage The Individual's Freedom And Activity Within Limits.
Since a stable schedule is necessary for medications and meals, you may want to encourage outside activities that the patient can tolerate such as a visit with an old friend or taking a walk in a nearby park.
Give Yourself a Break - It's important to remember that the individual with Alzheimer's disease is not the only one with needs that must be considered.
As a caregiver, your desires and needs must be met, also.
Most importantly, you should regularly try to find time for yourself.
This may sound impossible, but it's very important that you have some time each week to do something that you enjoy.
You need this diversion to clear your head and maintain some sort of balance in your life.
Don't Isolate Yourself -- Maintain contact with family and friends.
If you feel you have no one to turn to, it's very easy to become burned out.
It is very important to maintain healthy contacts and you can do so by becoming part of the Alzheimer's Association or some other local support group.
Visiting with other families who are experiencing same challenges will be very reassuring.
You'll come to realize that you are not alone in your daily struggles to care for your loved one with Alzheimer's disease.
Handling such a variety of duties can be very hard work.
However, by learning such care giving skills, you are making sure that your loved one feels as safe and secure as possible.
It is also important that you take care of yourself and your own well-being.
Caring for a loved one with dementia or any other disease that involves dementia can be extremely stressful and time-consuming.
A care giver can do many other things to help the patient while also reducing the sometimes overwhelming burden that goes along with caregiving: Be Informed - Knowledge is empowering.
The better educated you are about Alzheimer's disease and the signs and symptoms of dementia, the better able you will be to deal with challenges that will most likely arise.
Share Your Concerns With Your Loved One -- An individual with early stage dementia and who is only moderately impaired will be able to assist somewhat in his or her own care.
Create memory aides and other strategies that may be very useful to the individual with dementia, as well as to the caregiver.
This may be easier said than done, but may actually be a relief to your loved one.
It will encourage conversation about the problems at hand and will most likely make you both feel better about reaching some sort of solution.
That being said, it is vitally important to understand that the patient you are dealing with, if they are still in touch with reality, will more than likely be in some stage of denial.
Take One Problem At A Time - Problems may seem insurmountable at times.
Try to focus on one problem at a time.
You don't have to solve them all at once and trying to do so will only lead to a feeling of being overwhelmed.
Be Creative - Your ability to adapt is one of the main keys to coping with Alzheimer's.
If you aren't able to solve a problem one way, try another approach.
For instance, if the individual insists on eating with his or her hands, don't fight it--try building as many meals around finger foods, as possible.
Encourage The Individual's Freedom And Activity Within Limits.
Since a stable schedule is necessary for medications and meals, you may want to encourage outside activities that the patient can tolerate such as a visit with an old friend or taking a walk in a nearby park.
Give Yourself a Break - It's important to remember that the individual with Alzheimer's disease is not the only one with needs that must be considered.
As a caregiver, your desires and needs must be met, also.
Most importantly, you should regularly try to find time for yourself.
This may sound impossible, but it's very important that you have some time each week to do something that you enjoy.
You need this diversion to clear your head and maintain some sort of balance in your life.
Don't Isolate Yourself -- Maintain contact with family and friends.
If you feel you have no one to turn to, it's very easy to become burned out.
It is very important to maintain healthy contacts and you can do so by becoming part of the Alzheimer's Association or some other local support group.
Visiting with other families who are experiencing same challenges will be very reassuring.
You'll come to realize that you are not alone in your daily struggles to care for your loved one with Alzheimer's disease.
SHARE
