November 24th, 2014 3:45 PM
Here is an article from the Alzheimer Society UK that people may find helpful to read.
http://www.alzheimers.org.uk/site/scripts/documents_info.php?documentID=105
Staff -
November 24th, 2014 3:45 PM
Here is an article from the Alzheimer Society UK that people may find helpful to read.
http://www.alzheimers.org.uk/site/scripts/documents_info.php?documentID=105
Staff - Sylvan Lake, AB
January 13th, 2015 3:17 PM
Does anyone else have any ideas in this area, I really struggle with this in my situation. Any tips would be appreciated.
Care Partner - Red Deer, AB
January 19th, 2015 8:55 AM
Emotions play a big part in this disease for your Loved One and you as the caregiver. It is so very much like a roller coaster with highs and lows.
The most important part of my journey with my late wife was realizing just how important I was as the caregiver and how important it was that I remain a solid, healthy rock in the equation.
At our support group for caregivers I chronically state how important (heck, I feel it is the most important part) respite was for me. I know some people say they can't afford the time or the money and if they go their Loved One will be devastated or act out. In my personal opinion nothing could be further from the truth. I made it a personal commitment to go away one week each quarter. It was like a huge shot of fresh air in my life. If you don't look after yourself the emotions will flood over you and overwhelm you to the extent you won't be able to function. This is an unsubstantiated number but I have hear numerous times 78% of all caregivers pre-decease their Loved Ones. The Loved One gets the very best in care and attention while to caregiver gets nothing.
Get in touch with home care at AHS and express your concerns that you need support. There are two ways you need it. One is in your own residence by having a support worker come in several times a week to relieve you. Get out of the house and do something for YOU! It might be a trip to a museum, a haircut or coffee with a friend. If you are in a centre such as Red Deer get in touch with the Alzheimer's Society and find out how to get your loved one into the Adult Day Programme up to 3 days a week. This will also take stress off you by giving you free time.
As well, ask the Alzheimer's Society how to get your Loved One into a temporary facility for respite so you can leave town. Or it may also mean a close family member come and stay with your Loved One in your own home. The side benefit of this is that it exposes your family member to the exact condition your Loved One is in and exactly what you are experiencing.
Please act NOW on my suggestions and please keep me updated on your progress in this forumn. May God bless you richly on your journey and be with you.
R. Dean Cowan
Red Deer, AB
Staff - Sylvan Lake, AB
January 29th, 2015 8:55 AM
Thanks for your tips,, i have asked my daughter to come and help me for a weekend. I am feeling guilty about it but am also glad I reached out. I will let everyone know how it goes.
Care Partner - Edmonton, AB
February 3rd, 2016 12:30 AM
GA86 wrote:
Thanks for your tips,, i have asked my daughter to come and help me for a weekend. I am feeling guilty about it but am also glad I reached out. I will let everyone know how it goes.
GA86 wrote:
Thanks for your tips,, i have asked my daughter to come and help me for a weekend. I am feeling guilty about it but am also glad I reached out. I will let everyone know how it goes.
I live with guilt each day but I also live with the knowledge that I was out of my element much of the time in being able to deal with my husbands dementia 24 hours a day. I knew with the reasoning part of my mind that I was doing everything I could possibly do but my emotional side was constantly nagging that it was not enough and the guilt was allowed to in. I think you should remember that your care for your loved onr is allowing them to live a much better life than they would have without you and with that knowledge know that you cannot continue that care for them without some self care for yourself. Remember that you should put the oxygen mask onto yourself prior to helping others.
Care Partner - Red Deer, AB
April 15th, 2016 9:22 PM
It's funny. We as caregivers think we are superheros and don't need help. You get to a point where you are in so deeply you can't claw your way back. If anything happens to you the whole house of cards comes falling down. One gentleman I mentor thought he was a superhero. He ended up in the hospital for about 4 months and in the meantime his daughters were attending to the needs of their mother who had been placed in Long Term Care. The big issue I have had to deal with was his guilt because he let his wife down because he was hospitalized. NOW he says he wished he had of been proactive and put her in earlier because he was't Superman. To me it has been a tradgedy that could have been avoided if he had of sought help earlier.
Care Partner - Fort Saskatchewan, AB
January 26th, 2017 11:05 AM
I just joined this site and found the posts very helpful and thought provoking. I have had a lot of guilt and thought I was being a very poor caregiver. But after reading some of these posts I now realize that I'm doing all I can and asking for some help is not a swear word. I have MS and have realized that if I let my wifes condition worry me too much it can have a negative effect on my condition and that could really hurt the caregiving. I have to quit now my wife is wandering around with nothing to do.