SELF-CARE AND STRESS MANAGEMENT

Organizing Your Care When You’re Caring for Others’

Caregivers for people with Alzheimer’s disease or dementia
should manage their stress to avoid burnout and maintain their productivity.
High caregiving optimism

What is Alzheimer’s Disease and Dementia?
Memory loss and other mental abilities are referred to as dementia.
that are severe enough to cause problems in everyday life Physical factors are to blame.

The most frequent type of dementia is Alzheimer’s disease.
People have trouble recalling recent events, names, and places.
conversations. It is an incurable and progressive sickness that will finally kill you.
Memory, mental process, judgment, and behavior are all affected.

Challenges involved in caring for someone with these and other conditions

Caring for individuals with Alzheimer’s or dementia can cause special challenges for the caregiver

COMMUNICATION

Communication can be particularly difficult.
between the caregiver and the patient
and perseverance Because one person
Alzheimer’s or dementia patients may not be able to.
remembering names, talks, or situations
They may ask questions again,
are having trouble finding the proper words,
They are prone to losing their stream of thinking and
Less frequent communication

BEHAVIORS

Alzheimer’s or dementia patients
Dementia can cause changes in behavior.
depression, agitation, and others
Aggression, befuddlement, and suspicion
Caregivers can maintain their composure.
patient and accepting of behaviors
in order to work more effectively
throughout it

LOSS OF MEMORY

Early on, memory loss may be minor.
phases of the disease, but as it develops,
Likewise, the degree of memory loss will increase.
Caregivers have a bad reputation.
name, not being acknowledged, and many other things
People lose their memories.

Stress management for caregivers
Providing care for people in these and other situations
Conditions can be both rewarding and difficult.
simultaneously. Caregivers must exercise caution.
take care of themselves so that they can stay hopeful
To provide proper care, you must be energetic and optimistic.

Stress symptoms in caregivers (womenshealth.gov)

  • Overwhelmed, frustrated, and enraged
  • Making errors while providing care
  • Sense of being alone, isolated, or abandoned
  • Insufficiency of sleep
  • Sleeping excessively
  • Significant weight gain or loss
  • Consistently feeling fatigued
  • Losing interest in previously enjoyed activities
  • Getting agitated easily
  • Constantly concerned or depressed
  • Frequent headaches or body aches

Tips for self-care and stress management
It is critical for caregivers to look after themselves.
even while caring, both physically and emotionally
for others. Finding the time to care for yourself with
proper nutrition, exercise and sleep—as well as getting
support from family and friends will help caregivers
relieve stress and can prevent burnout.

Physical ways to manage stress

  • Get regular exercise
  • Participate in extracurricular

Activities

  • Eat a balanced diet
  • Pamper yourself
  • Meditate
  • Stay on track of your own health
  • Get plenty of sleep
  • Get regular doctor check ups

Mental/Emotional ways to manage stress

  • Talk with supportive friends
  • Get support from family

Members

  • Celebrate small victories
  • Applaud your own efforts
  • Enjoy a good laugh
  • Join a caregiver support group
  • Get help when you need it
  • Set routines and stay organized

Get in touch with Rivers of Hope, if you or an aging loved one are considering hiring a Home Care Services in Fall River, MA. Call the caring staff at Rivers of Hope today at 508-857-0629. We provide Independent, Dependent, and Companion Care Services in Brockton, Boston, Braintree, Avon Randolph, Abington, and the surrounding areas. Visit riversofhopes.com to learn more about us.

Elderly Care in Avon MA: Stress

Stress Is a Real Problem for Many Family Caregivers, and There Is an Option That Can Help

You know stress. Every single one of us knows it.

There’s no escaping it, especially in our modern, hustle and bustle society. When you are a caregiver, looking after somebody else, most likely a person of advancing years, even if it is a close family member or friend, you might not think stress would be a big deal.

But it is.

Stress for caregivers can be tremendous. Stress can cause a wide range of health issues, especially when it is prolonged.

 

Elderly Care in Avon MA: Stress
Elderly Care in Avon MA: Stress

 

What could be the long-term consequences of prolonged stress?

Most people don’t really think much about how stress affects them in the short term, much less the long-term. Yet, if you stop and think about it for a while, you begin to realize the various risk factors that actually exist all around us. Each day.

Prolonged stress is putting the body into a state of readiness, commonly referred to as the fight or flight survival instinct.

That means the body is exposed to increased levels of adrenaline and other hormones that aren’t healthy, especially for the long term. As a result, a person who is dealing with prolonged stress may be at a higher risk of developing certain health issues or facing a health crisis, like panic attacks, anxiety, heart attacks, elevated blood pressure levels, increased heart rate, stroke, and so much more.

 

What can help to curtail this level of stress?

Home care is arguably the best option for caregivers supporting family members or friends. Not many people actually think about home care when they are dealing with the stress of life as a caregiver.

They don’t think about it because they assume this is their responsibility. They just step in and provide the care and support this aging senior requires at that time. They rarely ever think about their own health, mental well-being, or safety.

However, home care is one of the best assets for aging seniors because it not only provides consistent care, many of those home care aides are experienced. In other words, they have worked with other seniors for quite some time, so they know solid, effective strategies that can make a world of difference for the senior and help him or her not only be safe and comfortable at home but also improve their quality of life when facing serious health issues of their own.

Don’t ignore it.

The last thing you or any other caregiver should do is ignore the effect that stress can have on their life. You may have already seen some of the earliest signs of stress infiltrating your life. A shorter temper, more worry, difficulty sleeping at night, and so forth.

Stress can manifest itself in many ways, so don’t take it lightly. If you are a family caregiver and have been feeling stressed out for quite some time, realize that help is right around the corner. Look into home care services.

 

If you or an aging loved one are considering hiring  Elderly Care in Avon, MA, call the caring staff at Rivers of Hope today at 508-857-0629. Providing Independent, Dependent, and Companion Care Services in Brockton, Boston, Braintree, Avon Randolph, Abington, and the surrounding areas. riversofhopes.com