Senior Helpers of Boston with Tips for Caregivers with Loved Ones That Have Dementia
Senior Helpers Boston, a leading home healthcare provider in Boston, are doing the little things and helping thousands of seniors and caregivers prepare for a healthier 2013. Caring for someone with dementia can be one of the most stressful situations possible for an adult child or spouse. When you start to feel the stress of your caregiving role, try some simple stress management techniques to clear you.
Boston, MA, January 07, 2013 --(PR.com)-- Senior Helpers Boston, a leading home healthcare provider in Boston, are doing the little things and helping thousands of seniors and caregivers prepare for a healthier 2013.
Caring for someone with dementia can be one of the most stressful situations possible for an adult child or spouse. The process can last for over 10 to 15 years and affects every aspect of life and function. The person requiring and receiving care generally cannot appreciate the problems they are experiencing and does not understand why they are no longer able to live their lives as they have been doing without “interference” and help that they believe is not needed.
Caregiving for someone with dementia is also an ever changing process. The conditions of Alzheimer’s, Lewy Body dementia, vascular dementia, frontal-temporal lobe dementia, and others are all progressive. The ultimate result is that the brain can no longer guide the person with the disease in how to think, talk, understand, behave, respond to sensation, move, and even swallow and breathe. Providing care to someone you have known as a vital and independent individual is incredibly stressful. You are losing the ‘person’ as you are caring for them and they may very well resent and resist your efforts to help and protect them as the disease progresses.
Caregivers of people with dementia are 80% more likely than other caregivers to perceive that they are very stressed in their caregiving role. Caregivers, in combination with the person with dementia, should be considered needing care, support, and intervention, but it rarely happens without a direct request for help on the caregivers’ part. Several studies have indicated that caregivers of people with dementia typically spend over 70 hours a week in care related activities, while others spend only 62. Dementia care is the third most expensive disease category in the United States, and yet little of it is paid for by governmental programs, adding a financial burden to the caregiver.
When you start to feel the stress of your caregiving role, try some simple stress management techniques to clear your mind and help you relax.
10 Minute Stress Tamers
1. Sit quietly in calm surroundings with soft lights.
2. Use aromatherapy with scents such as lavender, citrus, vanilla, cinnamon, or peppermint.
3. Breathe deeply – rest your mind and oxygenate.
4. Soak in a warm bath, or just your hands or feet.
5. Read spiritual selections, poetry, inspirational readings, or one chapter of a favorite book.
6. Laugh and smile. Watch classic comedians, Candid Camera, America’s Funniest Home Videos, or look at funny animal photos.
7. Stretch – front to back, side to side, and across.
8. Garden – work with plants, indoor or outdoor.
9. Remember the good times and record memories. Use scrapbooks, photo journals, keepsake memory picture frames, or jot down favorite family stories.
10. Have a cup of decaffeinated tea or coffee.
11. Have that cup of coffee or tea with a friend who listens well.
12. Play a brain game – crosswords, jigsaws, Jeopardy, jumbles, word searches, Sudoku.
13. Listen to and sing along with a favorite song.
14. Rest your eyes and read at the same time by listening to an audio book.
15. Take a walk.
16. Sit in the sun.
17. Journal – take the opportunity to “tell it like it is.”
18. Cuddle and stroke a pet.
Source- Teepa Snow
Caring for someone with dementia can be one of the most stressful situations possible for an adult child or spouse. The process can last for over 10 to 15 years and affects every aspect of life and function. The person requiring and receiving care generally cannot appreciate the problems they are experiencing and does not understand why they are no longer able to live their lives as they have been doing without “interference” and help that they believe is not needed.
Caregiving for someone with dementia is also an ever changing process. The conditions of Alzheimer’s, Lewy Body dementia, vascular dementia, frontal-temporal lobe dementia, and others are all progressive. The ultimate result is that the brain can no longer guide the person with the disease in how to think, talk, understand, behave, respond to sensation, move, and even swallow and breathe. Providing care to someone you have known as a vital and independent individual is incredibly stressful. You are losing the ‘person’ as you are caring for them and they may very well resent and resist your efforts to help and protect them as the disease progresses.
Caregivers of people with dementia are 80% more likely than other caregivers to perceive that they are very stressed in their caregiving role. Caregivers, in combination with the person with dementia, should be considered needing care, support, and intervention, but it rarely happens without a direct request for help on the caregivers’ part. Several studies have indicated that caregivers of people with dementia typically spend over 70 hours a week in care related activities, while others spend only 62. Dementia care is the third most expensive disease category in the United States, and yet little of it is paid for by governmental programs, adding a financial burden to the caregiver.
When you start to feel the stress of your caregiving role, try some simple stress management techniques to clear your mind and help you relax.
10 Minute Stress Tamers
1. Sit quietly in calm surroundings with soft lights.
2. Use aromatherapy with scents such as lavender, citrus, vanilla, cinnamon, or peppermint.
3. Breathe deeply – rest your mind and oxygenate.
4. Soak in a warm bath, or just your hands or feet.
5. Read spiritual selections, poetry, inspirational readings, or one chapter of a favorite book.
6. Laugh and smile. Watch classic comedians, Candid Camera, America’s Funniest Home Videos, or look at funny animal photos.
7. Stretch – front to back, side to side, and across.
8. Garden – work with plants, indoor or outdoor.
9. Remember the good times and record memories. Use scrapbooks, photo journals, keepsake memory picture frames, or jot down favorite family stories.
10. Have a cup of decaffeinated tea or coffee.
11. Have that cup of coffee or tea with a friend who listens well.
12. Play a brain game – crosswords, jigsaws, Jeopardy, jumbles, word searches, Sudoku.
13. Listen to and sing along with a favorite song.
14. Rest your eyes and read at the same time by listening to an audio book.
15. Take a walk.
16. Sit in the sun.
17. Journal – take the opportunity to “tell it like it is.”
18. Cuddle and stroke a pet.
Source- Teepa Snow
Contact
Senior Helpers Boston
Mark Friedman
781-569-6700
www.seniorhelpers.com/northeastmass
Mark Friedman
781-569-6700
www.seniorhelpers.com/northeastmass
Contact
Categories