Dementia can be hard to treat because dementia care has to cater to different needs – of both the patient and the caregiver. Caring for people with dementia can be challenging. Taking care of someone who has cared for you is immensely difficult and stressful. Keeping this in mind, we offer dementia caregiver support to keep caregivers happy and relaxed so they can be the companion their loved one needs. Read on to find out what caregiver stress is and how to combat it in a way that is beneficial to both the caregiver and the person with dementia.
Dementia is a progressive mental disorder that affects the memory and cognitive abilities of a person. As the disorder progresses, the patient requires an increased level of attention, and care from family and loved ones. Watching a close family member struggle with memory issues and simple day-to-day activities can be quite overwhelming for the caregivers.
Caring for dementia is a prolonged, stressful, and emotional experience. Dementia caregivers often find themselves to be anxious, angry, irritable, and less focused. They might often feel socially isolated as they have to constantly take care of the dementia patient, which impacts multiple aspects of their lives. As per dementia caregiver stress statistics, 30 – 40% of caregivers experience burn out episodes and are vulnerable to depression, and a multitude of other disorders.
Stress can manifest itself in an array of forms. Caring for dementia patients can be physically and psychologically exhausting.
Here are some of the key signs of dementia caregiver stress.
To be able to care for the dementia patient, the caregiver must take requisite self-care measures. It is important to note that only when the caregiver is relaxed can they be the caregiver that the person with dementia needs and deserves. On top of the array of responsibilities, caregivers need to be patient, empathetic, and understanding, which can be quite challenging. Here are some of the quirky tips for dealing with stress.
Dementia caregiving can be quite challenging if you are not aware of the multidimensional attributes of dementia care. Here are some dementia caregiver tips that may help you.
Dementia patients often find it difficult to follow through with conversations or instructions and get overwhelmed easily. It’s best to communicate with them in an easily-understandable way to avoid adding any stress or confusion.
Brain-enhancing exercises are quite impactful for memory boost as well. Keep your loved one with dementia engaged in creative activities that are both relaxing and entertaining for them. Stay involved in their daily activities – give them tasks, observe their behaviors. Always try to acknowledge, encourage their progress and respond with warmth; this helps the patients achieve reassurance and feel safe, which is vital for them.
Dementia patients feel better in soothing, and calm atmospheres. Keep them in a place complete with bright colors. If possible, play mild and smooth music in the background with a pleasant fragrance. As a caregiver, you can try to evade noisy and clumsy atmospheres for the patients. Make them laugh whenever and wherever possible. Make them feel loved; this will help in boosting their mood and energy levels.
Caring for a dementia patient is an extensive and exhausting process, and self-care might not be a priority at all times for the caregiver. However, if you are stressed and not in good health, you won’t be able to care for your loved ones optimally. Do watch out for burnout signs, speak up with your near and dear ones, seek professional help whenever necessary. Adopt relaxation techniques such as breathing, meditation, visual therapy, progressive muscle relaxation, etc.
Caregiving for a dementia patient has multiple facets, and traveling is one of them. Traveling with someone with dementia requires extra preparations and precautionary measures to ensure an enjoyable experience. Here are some of the best practices to be followed.
Cadabam’s, the pioneers of behavioral health services in India, have over 28 years of experience in treating mental disorders. We follow an evidence-based and solution-oriented treatment process. Our multispeciality team of psychiatrists, psychologists, counsellors and physicians work round the clock to treat dementia in a holistic way. Our customised treatment plans that address the needs of the family and the patient are armed with state-of-the-art infrastructure, residential facilities, and strong community support.
Dementia can be hard to treat, not only because it is hard to diagnose but also because dementia care has to cater to different needs – of both the patient and the caregiver. At Cadabams, we care for you. For more details, reach out to us on our 24X7 dementia helpline @ +91 9741476476, or mail us at info@cadabams.org.
Disclaimer – In case you or a loved are struggling with dementia or you are caring for one, do share your unique viewpoint on how we can improve this content for our readers, please reach out to us at info@cadabams.org