How Caring for a Loved One Who Has Alzheimer’s Disease Can Affect You
How Caring for a Loved One Who Has Alzheimer’s Disease Can Affect You
If you are responsible for taking care of your loved one with Alzheimer’s, you may start to feel overwhelmed and you are not alone. There are an estimated 15 million Americans who provide care to someone with Alzheimer’s and they do not receive pay for it. Even when you have the best intentions in mind for your loved one, it can be difficult and extremely
While you do manage to take care of your loved one, the Visiting Angels Home Care team wants to remind you that you need to take care of yourself mentally, emotionally, and physically as well. Below, we will take a look at what stress can do to you and the side effects that you may experience.
Stress and How It Affects You
Studies have shown that stress and caregiving can negatively affect you and your relationships with others. In addition to that, stress can increase your risk for illness. Visiting Angels Home Care wants you to consider some of the following statistics about stress.
Increased frustration levels – Studies have revealed that more than one-fifth of caregivers are exhausted when they are ready to go to bed at night. Many of them feel they are unable to handle the duties they have taken on.
Increased depression levels – Studies have indicated that up to 40 percent of dementia caregivers suffer from emotional stress and depression.
An increased decline in overall health – Studies have shown that about 1 in 10 caregivers have experienced a decline in their health since they started to take care of a loved one and many of them have neglected their own needs.
The Three Rs for Relief
Visiting Angels Home Care wants you to know that it is vital to your overall well-being to keep the three Rs in mind and find time to do them. The three important Rs are:
- Rest
- Relax
- Recharge
STOP: Recognizing a Burnout
Burnouts happen, and the signs and symptoms will start to present themselves and this is how you know it is time to think STOP and reach out to someone else for some help.
S: Sad – Do you feel sad? Lonely? Or isolated?
T: Tired – Are you physically and mentally exhausted?
O: Over-Reacting – Do you lash out at the smallest things? Are you angry often?
P: Pain – Do you experience headaches? Backaches? Stress or physical fatigue?
Contact Visiting Angels Home Care Today
If you would like to learn more about how to care for a loved one with Alzheimer’s or you would like to learn more about how to recognize and minimize the stress you feel from caregiving, call Visiting Angels Home Care at your convenience.