Taking care of someone with Alzheimer’s disease can be a demanding task. Many caregivers spend so much time focused on the person that they fail to take care of themselves, resulting in them suffering from health problems. Here’s how to balance caregiving and caring for yourself …

BY: Helen Lim

No two people experience Alzheimer’s disease in the same way. As a result, there’s no one approach to caregiving. Caregiving responsibilities can range from making financial decisions, managing changes in behaviour to helping a loved one get dressed in the morning. Handling these duties is hard work but by learning caregiving skills, you can make sure that your loved one feels supported and is living a full life. You can also ensure that you are taking steps to preserve your own well-being.

Why is it so important to care for yourself? You are the most important person in the life of the person with Alzheimer’s disease. He or she is relying on you for the care. He or she is depending on you to interpret life for him or her. Taking care of someone with Alzheimer’s disease can be a demanding task. It requires time and energy. Many caregivers suffer health problems that result from the intense demands of looking after someone. If you want to continue to give care, it is essential that you look after yourself.

 

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10 Signs of Caregiver Stress
Knowing and recognising these signs of stress in yourself or someone you care about is the first step towards taking action:

• DENIAL about the disease and its effect on the person with the disease – “Everyone is overreacting. I know Mom will get better.”
• ANGER at the person with Alzheimer’s disease, themselves and others – “If he asks me that question once more, I will scream!”
• WITHDRAWING SOCIALLY – You no longer want to stay in touch with friends or participate in activities you once enjoyed. “I don’t care about getting together with friends anymore.”
• ANXIETY about facing another day and what the future holds – “I’m worried about what will happen when I can no longer provide care.”
• DEPRESSION – You feel sad and hopeless much of the time. “I don’t care anymore. What is wrong with me?”
• EXHAUSTION – You barely have the energy to complete your daily tasks. “I don’t have the energy to do anything anymore.”
• SLEEPLESSNESS – You wake up in the middle of the night or have nightmares and stressful dreams. “I rarely sleep through the night, and don’t feel refreshed in the morning.”
• EMOTIONAL REACTIONS – You cry at minor upsets; you are often irritable. “I cried when there was no milk for my coffee this morning. Then I yelled at my son.”
• LACK OF CONCENTRATION – You have trouble focusing and you find it difficult completing complex tasks. “I used to do the daily crossword. Now I am lucky if I can solve half of it.”
• HEALTH PROBLEMS – You may lose or gain weight, get sick more often (colds and flu), or develop chronic health problems (backaches and high blood pressure).

  

10 ways to reduce caregiver stress 

As a caregiver, you need to take care of yourself. There are things you can do to help maintain your health and well-being:

1.	Learn about the disease
	Knowing as much as you can about the disease and care strategies will prepare you for the Alzheimer journey. Understanding how the disease affects the person will help you comprehend and adapt to the changes.
2.	Be realistic … about the disease
	It is important, though difficult, to be realistic about the disease and how it will affect the person over time. Once you are realistic, it will be easier for you to adjust your experience.
3.	Be realistic … about yourself
	You need to be realistic about how much you can do. What do you value most? A walk with the person you are caring for, time by yourself, or a tidy house? There is no “right” answers; only you know what matters most to you and how much you can do.
4.	Accept your feelings
	When caring for a person with Alzheimer’s disease, you will have many mixed feelings. In a single day, you may feel contented, angry, guilty, happy, sad, embarrassed, afraid and helpless. These feelings may be confusing, but they are normal. Recognise that you are doing the best you can.
5.	Share information and feelings with others
	Sharing information about the disease with family and friends will help them understand what is happening and better prepare them to provide the help and support you need. It is also important to share your feelings. Find someone whom you feel comfortable talking about your feelings. This may be a close friend or family member, someone you met at an Alzheimer support group, a member of your religious community, or a healthcare professional.
6.	Be positive
	Your attitude can make a difference to the way you feel. Try to look at the positive side of things. Focusing on what the person can do, as opposed to the abilities lost, can make things easier. Try to make every day count. There can still be times that are special and rewarding.
7.	Look for humour
	While Alzheimer’s disease is serious, you may find certain situations have a bright side. Maintaining a sense of humour can be a good coping strategy.
8.	Take care of yourself
	Your health is important. Do not ignore it. Eat proper meals and exercise regularly. Find ways to relax and try to get the rest you need. Make regular appointments with your doctor for checkups. You also need to take regular breaks from caregiving. Do not wait until you are too exhausted to plan this. Take time to maintain interests and hobbies. Keep in touch with friends and family so you will not feel lonely and isolated. These things will give you strength to continue providing care.
9.	Get help:
	Support You will need the support that comes from sharing thoughts and feelings with others. This could be individually, with a professional or as part of an Alzheimer support group. Choose the form of support with which you are most comfortable. Practical Help It can be hard to ask for and accept help. But asking for help is not a sign of inadequate caregiving. You cannot care for a person with Alzheimer’s disease alone. Ask family and friends for help. Most people will be willing to assist you.
10.	Plan for the future
	Planning for the future can help relieve stress. While the person with Alzheimer’s disease is still capable, review his or her financial situation and plan accordingly. Choices relating to future health and personal care decisions should be considered and recorded. Legal and estate planning should also be discussed. As well, think about an alternate caregiving plan in the event you are unable to provide care in the future.

 

Helen Lim is a family caregiver and is on the editorial board of the ALZ-Newsletter of the Alzheimer’s Disease Association (ADA). This article has been reprinted with permission from the newsletter of ADA. For more information of ADA, go to: www.alzheimers.org.sg.

 

(PHOTO CREDIT: AUTUMN COUPLE © Piotr Rydzkowski | Dreamstime.com)

 

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