Caring for Alzheimer’s Disease Patients
There are few diseases that have as profound an impact on the families of the patients as Alzheimer’s disease. As the family caregiver you may feel overwhelmed by the growing need to protect the safety and health of someone you love who is suffering from Alzheimer’s disease. If so, you are not the only one. According to the Alzheimer’s Association, as of June 2011, there are more than 15 million people in the United States providing home care to a loved one with Alzheimer’s. A 2001 study found that family caregivers for Alzheimer’s patients often were forced to give up their work in order to spend 47 hours a week caring for an Alzheimer’s patient¹. That’s a tremendous burden to take on alone.
To minimize the impact of Alzheimer’s disease on you, the family caregiver, there are a number of steps that you can take to help take care of not only your parent, but yourself and other family members as well.
Get Help
Whether you choose a Sioux falls Primary Home Care Services Alzheimer’s caregiver or someone else, we urge you to find help and support. You really can’t do this alone. According to a 2007 Swedish study² people who tried to go it alone showed “significantly higher values for worry, overload and role captivity, and a higher level of depression” than people who sought help. You’ve come to Sioux falls Primary Home Care Services, so you are on the right track! Contact us for more information on our Memory Care for Alzheimer’s and Dementia care services today!
Talk About It
Living with Alzheimer’s can be difficult. There are a number of support groups for Alzheimer’s disease patients and their families. Many family in-home caregivers report having trouble making a distinction between their parent and the behavior caused by the disease. You may find yourself getting frustrated or angry with your parent and finding a support group or other people to talk with about the impact of Alzheimer’s can help. (See Alzheimer’s Association below.)
Get Informed
We’ve included a few resources below to help you understand Alzheimer’s disease and to find ways of dealing with both your parent’s, as well as your own, health and well-being.
- The 10 Warning Signs of Alzheimer’s Disease
- Ten Questions to Ask Your Parent’s Doctor About Alzheimer’s
- Alzheimer’s Association – A national organization, Alzheimer’s Association has a variety of programs, materials and support services that can help you find your way. Their 24-hour call center number is 605-335-0023.
- The National Institute on Aging’s Alzheimer’s Disease Education & Referral Center has a wealth of information regarding causes, symptoms, diagnosis and treatment.