Living with an Alzheimer’s Sufferer

Alzheimer’s disease is a serious ailment that is becoming extremely prevalent for seniors all over the world. The most common form of mental decline among older adults, Alzheimer’s affects the memory, behavior and even the personality.

Alzheimer’s is often referred to as the “family disease,” because although only one person has the illness, everyone around them is affected. Caring for an Alzheimer’s sufferer can be an overwhelming, stress-filled experience. Lifestyles must change and the daily to-dos must be put on hold. Through all of these changes though, it is imperative that the caregiver doesn’t forget to care for herself.

Caregiver is a word that is loosely defined in today’s whirlwind of healthcare related terms. With Alzheimer’s, care giving is dealing with the sufferer’s physical, mental and emotional needs on a daily basis. However, if the caregiver isn’t handling their own problems in these areas first, the quality of care she can offer is significantly lower.

Since Alzheimer’s care giving requires so much time, energy and costs, it is essential for caregivers to take time to care for themselves. The Web site www.namenda.com offers a list of things to do and think about in this area.

Get Support: Often, caregivers shy away from their friends and family as the time constraints of their responsibilities gets the best of them. Joining a support group or simply staying in touch with those close to you is important to the caregiver’s health in a holistic manner.

Banish Guilt: Habitually, the individual with Alzheimer’s will regress at certain points. The caregiver must understand that these regressions are normal for those who suffer from the disease. It is through no fault of their own that their patient was better yesterday than he is today.

Set Limits: Care giving is more demanding than most people understand. Remember that saying no to someone is always a viable option. Saying no to requests that drain energy rather than restore it is important. Remembering to say yes to those attempting to help you is just as important.

Nurture Your Body: As with any responsibility that is physically and emotionally draining, getting enough sleep, remaining well nourished, and not overexerting oneself is vital to providing excellent care.

Nurture Your Mind: Take an occasional break. Don’t forget to stimulate your own mind the way you did before becoming a caregiver. Many times, caregivers separate themselves from their “former lives” so much, that they forget how they used to relax. If spirituality is important to you, don’t lose that base either.

The other aspect of care giving you obviously can’t forget about is the financial side. When caring for someone with Alzheimer’s disease, legal, financial and insurance questions are bound to come up. It’s important to get the advice of professionals before jumping into anything, but doing your own research is equally important. Staying informed on the issues of finance, legality and insurance is empowering and can give you the confidence needed to make important decisions.

There are a variety of web sites to help understand the confusing financial, legal and insurance matters that go along with caring for someone with Alzheimer’s. Visit these sites to gain a better understanding of these issues: www.eldercare.gov (The Eldercare Locator), www.cms.hhs.gov (Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services), www.aahsa.org (The American Association of Homes and Services for the Aging), and www.nih.gov/nia, The National Institute on Aging).

Being a caregiver will always be a challenge, but understanding the importance of caring for you will make the job easier and fulfilling in the long run.

Frank M. Skrip Jr. is a public relations assistant at Concordia Lutheran Ministries.