Written by Being Patient
When people take on the role of caregiving for a loved one with dementia, they may feel unsure how to cope with the sudden changes in their life. In the U.S., only about a quarter of dementia caregivers are from outside the circle of family and close friends, which can be challenging for families to be thrown into such an important role. When it comes to caring for a loved one with dementia, studies show caregivers often feel ill-equipped.
Caregivers can feel burdened by the extreme expectations that can fall on them and are at higher risk of developing physical and mental health conditions themselves, including being more than twice as likely to develop depression.
Here are some tips to prevent stress and stay healthy when caregiving.
1. Build your support team
Caregiving takes a village, according to dementia caregiving expert Teepa Snow. Caregivers should look to assemble what Snow calls a caregiving “dream team” to better support both their loved one with dementia and themselves. When building a caregiving team, think about sourcing people that excel in areas that you find challenging, such as managing finances, scheduling appointments, cooking, or cleaning for your loved one.
“I may actually need a group of people around me, because I need multiple people to bounce things off of,” Snow said, adding that at minimum a caregiving team should have one person who can act as support for the loved one, and another who can act as support to the caregiver.
2. Engage in self-care activities
It’s important for caregivers to continue pursuing hobbies and activities that filled their life prior to caregiving. Dale Atkins, psychologist and co-author of “The Kindness Advantage” suggests that caregivers make time to walk in nature, listen to their favorite music, and read. She recommends that three to four times a day caregivers find a minute to take a breath and center themselves.
Physical movement, regardless of how strenuous, can significantly boost mental health. Exercise releases hormones that can reduce stress and symptoms of anxiety and depression. A short walk can improve overall well-being, as can activities like meditation and gratitude journaling.
3. Practice gratitude
It’s no secret that caregiving can be incredibly challenging and life-changing, but within these challenges there are still many positive aspects of caregiving. Reframing your mindset to one of gratitude rather than anger or resentment can change how you perceive the situation. Many caregivers report feeling a sense of newfound purpose and personal accomplishment as a result of caregiving. Joining a support group can offer caregivers the space to navigate complex feelings with other people who understand the journey.
Shonda Bell describes the mutli-faceted experience of caregiving. After both her parents were diagnosed with Alzheimer’s two years apart, Bell found herself navigating the caregiving role, including uncovering financial fraud and learning what a dementia diagnosis means. “It’s been the most challenging thing I have ever done in my life,” Bell said. “I count it as an honor.”
