”I can’t do this another day,” you moan as you drag around from lack of sleep, trying to keep up with your Mother’s wanderings. She cleverly learns the new latch on the outer door. The childproof catches on the cabinets don’t faze her. She’s hot, so dispenses with garment after garment.  And she asks those repetitive questions. Often it’s a challenge to find help when you’re an overwhelmed caregiver. Where do you turn? There’s no one size fits all answer. So here are some ideas as starters.

1. Check to see if there is a daycare type of group in your community…senior center, hospital, home health care facility, or nursing home.
2. Join a caregiver’s support group.
3. Check with the Alzheimer’s Association to see what might be near you.
4. See if the local hospital or nursing home has a support group.
5. Look for online groups. You’ll often find discussions there about topics that relate to yours. Others may be able to give you tips. At least you’ll realize you’re not along.
6. Visit blogs and web sites that provide information and resources about Alzheimer’s and caregiving.
7. Take care of your health, emotional and physical.

Where have you found support when you’re overwhelmed?

©2008 Mary Emma Allen

Post from: Blisstree

7 Tips for Finding Help for the Overwhelmed Caregiver

Caring for a family member afflicted with Alzheimer’s can be very stressful and wearing on the caregiver.  However, some feel very guilty when they seek help. They think it’s their duty to care for a parent or spouse…on their own, without help from other family members or the outside world.

No one is fully prepared for these unexpected situations in their life. Also, for each person it is different…how they react, how the Alzheimer’s patient reacts, the caregiver’s capabilities and other responsibilities, the degree of care the patient needs.

However, if:

*You find you’re always tired
*You feel you have no time of space for yourself
*You find family and friends having less or no time to help
*You or others in your household have serious medical conditions
*You are becoming resentful with what you have to do
*You feel at a loss as far as knowing what to do

Then seek out some of the resources in your community and online to help you cope and find solutions. Sometimes you find more resources in some areas than others. However, don’t feel guilty about seeking help and saying, “I can’t do everything!”

Imperative, too, is taking care of yourself.

How have you found help in caring for the Alzheimer’s patient in your family?

©2008 Mary Emma Allen

Post from: Blisstree

Taking the Guilt Out of Seeking Caregiver Help