Today, about 15.7 million adult family members, many of them are spouses, are in the role of caregiving for someone who has dementia. While caregiving a spouse with dementia is common, it can come with some unique challenges.
Memory loss is the most common symptom of dementia. Your loved one in the early stages of dementia may remember that they have the syndrome, but people typically forget their diagnosis as it progresses. Your loved one may repetitively ask you, “Do I have dementia?” They may also ask, “What is wrong with me?” They might also not be able to articulate what they are experiencing, and this can generate confusion, frustration, and stress. Should you remind your loved one that they have dementia, even if you must do it repeatedly? Or should you just let it go?
Even though the reasons for anxiety in people with dementia vary individually, there are some common threads. Caregivers most often manage anxiety with a focus on the following five common causes.
If your loved one has just been diagnosed with dementia you may feel stunned, knowing that the condition is life-changing – it is never easy on a family. It can feel frightening. You may wonder what the next steps should be. Dementia is progressive in nature, but as you gain knowledge about the condition, and as you set some plans in place, it can help make the process smoother, and it will enable you to provide the best care for your loved one.
Apps that challenge the brain and provide entertainment are no longer geared entirely towards the younger population. Many apps are available that seniors enjoy, and even better, there are a variety of simple apps on the market that can help your loved one who has dementia.
If you are a caregiver and your loved one is starting to have accidents with incontinence, the challenges can feel enormous. You may be fearing that you will not be able to handle the incontinence and that you may have to turn to care options other than yourself. You are not alone in this struggle, and we want you to know that there is hope. We have some practical tips for you that many caregivers follow to manage incontinence.
If you are the caregiver of an individual with dementia, you may be trying to keep your loved one in their home and community for as long as possible. But, as the caregiving demands increase, so does your need to bring in help. You may wonder if Medicare is a good starting place; does it pay for at-home professional dementia care?
Relationships between parents and their children aren’t always picture-perfect, and as people grow older they can change for the better or for the worse. Caregiving an aging parent isn’t an easy feat, but it can be much more stressful if the parent has dementia.