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If you were planning to drive from Boston to Southern Florida, you would likely expect to stop at gas stations, restaurants, and a hotel or two. It would be absurd to head out on a nonstop journey with no supplies or planned stops but that is often the case when a spouse or child suddenly becomes the primary caregiver for a family member with Alzheimer’s or other dementia condition.
A Stanford University study from 1999 showed that a shocking 40 percent of those who cared for a spouse with Alzheimer’s disease, and whose caregiving responsibilities caused stress, died sooner than caregivers who did not report stress.
A 2003 Ohio State University study about the effect caregiving stress had on elderly people caring for spouses with Alzheimer’s not only found a significant deterioration in the health of caregivers when compared to a similar group of non-caregivers but also found the caregivers had a 63 percent higher death rate than the control group.
Neither study is recent, but the contributing factors are even more challenging today. As people live longer and social conditions become even more complex, the burden on a spouse or child caring for a loved one can be long, lonely and arduous.
Caregiving stress can induce life threatening illness and depression, according to the National Care Planning Council. “The resulting poor health can further decrease the effectiveness of the caregiver and in some cases … cause premature death,” the Council said. That may be a risk many of us are willing to take but it can lead to tragic outcomes for the dependent person as well.
These studies underscore the importance of vital support for caregivers. Often, caregivers soldier on when they should learn to seek help, take breaks, and join support groups.
The Alzheimer’s Foundation of America suggests tips for managing stress that make sense not just in Alzheimer’s or dementia situations but for caregiving in general, including:
- Maintain a positive attitude
- Be flexible and accept the circumstances
- Be honest and open about your feelings
- Take it one day at a time–not everything can be solved in a day
- Get a good night’s sleep
- Incorporate stress management techniques, such as meditation or deep breathing, and exercise into your life
- Drink water and eat a healthful diet
- Set realistic goals and go slow—life is not a race, rather, it is a journey
Specifically regarding managing stress linked to Alzheimer’s caregiving, the foundation’s suggested strategies include:
- Educating yourself by visiting www.alzfdn.org or the National Institute on Aging website for information about the disease.
- Support groups, educational workshops, community resources and professionals can help increase your understanding of the disease and what to expect.
- Building key skills including communication, understanding safety considerations and behaviors, and managing activities of daily living such as bathing, toileting and dressing.
- Developing empathy to understand what it is like to be a person living with dementia.
- Reaching out to family, friends, and medical and mental health professionals to assist you when things get tough.
- Taking an active role in the individual’s medical care, including getting to know the care team, asking questions, expressing concerns, and discussing treatment options.
- Taking care of financial, legal, and long-term care planning issues early on, to help reduce stress later.
- Kindness, humor and creativity are essential parts of caregiving and can help reduce stress. Hugs, gentle touch and compassion help you and the individual feel connected and loved.
- Thinking positively and focusing on the capabilities and strengths that are still intact and enjoying your relationship with your person while you are still together.
This is all certainly great advice, but it can feel like a list of unattainable luxuries when you are isolated and alone in your caregiving journey. Even people with loving friends and family may find themselves with long stretches of caregiving time that overwhelm them and deplete emotional and physical reserves. That is your cue to add resources so you can make it through the marathon with enough wellbeing to achieve your goals.
Homecare Choices stands ready to help. We join our clients and families as a partner to prevent problems and add quality of life.
Specialized care for Alzheimer’s and other forms of dementia requires a safety-first approach supported by patience, skill, and compassion. Our caregivers are trained to provide an engaging, and calming environment at home — where familiar surroundings can reduce confusion and promote well-being.
Our clients with dementia related illnesses have the capacity for relaxation, joy and peace of mind. Those happy moments are best achieved with consistency and trust, supporting both clients and families as needs evolve.
Those seeking information about in-home care for a family member or loved one with Alzheimer’s or dementia, or for more information about Homecare Choices and its services in general, should contact Executive Director Peter Carey for a free consultation. Reach him by phone at 508-313-2529, by email at petercarey@homecarechoices.com, or through the contact form on the Homecare Choices website.