Did you know there are nearly 90 million family caregivers in the United States, and that number is growing? We’re recognizing these folks throughout November for National Family Caregivers Month. We kicked it off with a quiz to test your knowledge on family caregivers. Keep visiting stelizabeth.com/healthyheadlines all month long for more tips!
Last year, more than 15 million Americans provided unpaid daily care valued at $220 billion for loved ones with Alzheimer’s disease, according to the Alzheimer’s Association.
Caregiving is a big ““ sometimes overwhelming ““ job. As the disease progresses, and the patient’s symptoms grow more severe, caregivers, often the children or spouses of Alzheimer’s patients, may experience stress, isolation and burnout.
Caregiver stress isn’t just harmful to the caregiver; it can also put the person with Alzheimer’s or other forms of dementia at risk, according to the Alzheimer’s Association.
The association’s warning signs of stress or burnout include:
- Denial about the disease and its effect on the person who has been diagnosed.
- Anger at the person with Alzheimer’s, anger that no cure exists or anger that people don’t understand what’s happening.
- Social withdrawal from friends and activities that once brought pleasure.
- Anxiety about the future.
- Depression that begins to break your spirit and affects your ability to cope.
- Exhaustion that makes it nearly impossible to complete necessary daily tasks.
- Sleeplessness caused by a never-ending list of concerns.
- Irritability that leads to moodiness and triggers negative responses and actions.
- Lack of concentration that makes it difficult to perform familiar tasks.
- Health problems that begin to take a mental and physical toll.
Help is available, according to the National Institute on Aging. Resources such as support groups and respite care can give caregivers a much-needed break from the day-to-day rigors of caring for an adult with Alzheimer’s or dementia.
Here are the NIA’s tips to prevent caregiver burnout:
- Ask for help when you need it. Be specific, such as asking someone to prepare a meal, visit the person with Alzheimer’s or take the person with Alzheimer’s for an outing.
- Join a caregivers’ support group. The patient’s physician or your local Alzheimer’s Association office (www.alz.org) can refer you.
- Take breaks each day.
- Spend time with friends.
- Keep up with your hobbies and interests.
- Eat healthy foods.
- Get exercise as often as you can.
- See your doctor on a regular basis.
- Keep your health, legal, and financial information up-to-date.
- Call for help from home health care or adult day care services when you need it. To find providers in your area, contact Eldercare Locator at 1-800-677-1116 or, www.eldercare.gov.
