If a parent, spouse or other family member was recently diagnosed with dementia, you and your family are probably grappling with a lot of intense feelings. The emotional impact of a dementia diagnosis, paired with the vast amount of information out there might leave you feeling overwhelmed, confused and wondering “What’s the next step?”
Caregiving for a family member with dementia is a tough job, both physically and mentally. And things can get a little more challenging during the holidays. You might find yourself struggling to keep up with your caregiving duties and other obligations, as well as shopping, cooking, cleaning and the other preparations the holiday season often entails.
Fifty years ago, psychologist Herbert J. Freudenberger studied and summed up the symptoms of chronic fatigue in medical and caregiving professions with the term burnout. He described it as a “state of mental and physical exhaustion caused by one’s professional life.”