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Easing the Stress of Caregiving
For millions of Americans who have assumed the role of caregiver to a loved one, the round-the-clock physical and emotional demands can cause feelings of stress to steadily compound. In fact, stress is the number one cause of caregiver burnout. There are, however, some basic steps that can be taken to keep stress to a minimum and help ensure the caregiver's well-being receives ongoing attention.
Nursing Homes: Making the Right Choice
Emma’s family didn’t know what to do. Her son put grab bars in the shower. Her daughter brought lunch over every day. The neighbors checked in often. But at 82 Emma needed more help. Staying home alone just wasn’t working for Emma.
Long-Distance Caregiving
Long-distance caregiving can be figuring out what you can do to help Aunt Lilly sort through her medical bills or thinking about how to make the most of a weekend visit with Mom. It can include checking the references of an aide who’s been hired to help your grandfather or trying to take the pressure off your sister who lives in the same town as her aging parents and her aging in-laws.
What Can I Do About Caregiver Stress?
"Caregiver stress" is extremely common. The seemingly endless round-the-clock physical and emotional demands of caregiving can end up taking a big toll on both your body and your mind. Read on to learn some of the most typically-experienced feelings specifically associated with caregiving that can lead to chronic stress, the 10 early warning signs that stress is becoming a serious problem, and, most importantly, how to get help.
Give the Gift of Time to Someone You Know Who's a Caregiver
Many of us have a close friend or relative who's a family caregiver whom we'd like to help, but are unsure of just what we can do. Consider giving the gift of time. Time for them to step aside from their round-the-clock caregiving responsibilities and do something that helps them attend to their own physical and emotional well-being.
November is National Alzheimer's Disease Awareness Month
It's normal to every once in a while forget a phone number, the day of the week, or what you just came in to a room to do. Memory changes, confusion, and disorientation associated with Alzheimer's, however, grow progressively worse over time. The early-stage warning signs may develop gradually and go unnoticed, or, in many cases, they're initially mistaken for the normal aging process.
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