A caregiver is a person who provides care for another individual. In the United States, millions of people provide care for a friend or family member with Alzheimer's disease or another type of dementia. Sometimes caregivers live with the patient or nearby, while sometimes they reside far away. For many families, caring for a person with dementia is not the sole responsibility of a single person but rather a shared responsibility among multiple individuals. Regardless of the type of caregiver you are, caring for another person can at times be daunting. These tips may be useful for routine care and chores.
Being a caregiver can be both incredibly rewarding and overwhelming. It takes time and effort to care for a person with Alzheimer's or a similar disease. It can be isolating and aggravating. You may even experience anger, which could be an indication that you are trying to take on too much. It is essential to schedule time for self-care. Here are some tips that may be of assistance:
It can be daunting to make health care decisions for someone who can no longer do so. Therefore, advance planning of health care directives is essential. To assist with future planning, you can:
The more you learn about your loved one's condition, the more you will understand what to expect as dementia progresses and what you can do to help.
For more information about 24-hour care for dementia patients, check out this article by Senior Strong.