Tips are presented that offer some guidance on how to maintain and improve your caregiving relationship. One tip to remember is to take time for yourself.
Most people who provide care and support to a person with Alzheimer’s disease don’t think of themselves as caregivers. Rather, they consider themselves to be a devoted spouse, child, family member or friend helping a loved one in a time of need.
If you pause for a moment and think about all you do, you may be surprised by the depth and extent of your involvement. While the type of support varies based on factors such as capabilities of the person with Alzheimer’s disease, health of the caregiver and geographic distance, these are tasks you may take on as a caregiver:
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Many individuals with Alzheimer’s disease need assistance on a daily basis. If you offer care and support to someone with dementia, your life is also affected. Being a caregiver can impact your physical health and emotional well-being as well as raise legal and financial concerns.
As a caregiver – and similar to the well-known pre-flight instruction -- “you must put on your oxygen mask first before assisting others.” You must take care of yourself first in order to be an effective caregiver. So what should you do? Below are some tips for managing some of the most common challenges caregivers face.
Caregiver challenge: Caregiving responsibilities
Tips for coping include:
Caregiver challenge: Physical health
Tips for coping include:
Caregiver challenge: Emotional health
Tips for coping include:
Caregiver challenge: Well being
Tips for coping include:
Caregiver challenge: Legal/financial
Tips for coping include:
Being a caregiver is both rewarding and challenging. Caring for a loved one with Alzheimer’s disease can bring families closer together, increase adaptability and coping skills, and offer the chance to give back to someone special. Effective caregivers are knowledgeable about the disease and its symptoms, strive to take care of themselves and accept help from all available resources to ensure their own well-being during their caregiving journey.
Last reviewed by a Cleveland Clinic medical professional on 08/13/2018.
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