Caring for Yourself as an Alzheimer’s Caregiver
Dr. Namita Yende
| 4 min read
Individuals with dementia and Alzheimer’s disease are often cared for by family members or close friends. In 2023, caregivers provided about 18.4 billion hours of care to someone with dementia.
More than 11 million adults in the United States provide unpaid care for someone with a form of dementia. In fact, Alzheimer’s caregivers often provide care longer than those caring for people with other conditions. Caregiving can be an emotionally, psychologically and physically straining endeavor if the individual doesn’t make time to look after themselves.
Why self-care is important and tips to apply
Caregivers of people with dementia or Alzheimer's are at greater risk for anxiety, depression, and lower quality of life than caregivers of people with other chronic conditions.
Caregiver burnout may trigger depersonalization or an increasing detachment from the caregiving role — and sometimes from the person receiving care. That’s why adopting healthy habits that prioritize mental and emotional self-care is important in helping caregivers find balance. Here are tips to incorporate into daily routines:
Carve out time for self-care: spend 20 to 30 minutes a day that would otherwise be spent caregiving to:
- Step outside for fresh air and/or go on a walk
- Call or visit with friends
- Journal
- Meditate, stretch or pray
Prioritize one’s own health: It can be easy to set an individual’s own health needs aside as they give care. But don’t forget to keep up with regular doctor’s appointments, eat a healthy, well-balanced diet, get at least seven hours of sleep per night and drink plenty of water.
Seek help from others: Help from others – specifically other caregivers – can provide consolation, wisdom, knowledge, know-how and empathy, all of which can lower the chance of burnout. The National Institute on Aging (NIA) recommends building a local support system that includes caregivers, nonprofit and community organizations, family, friends and faith groups. The Alzheimer’s Association website offers peer- or professionally-led groups for caregivers.
Incorporate rewards: Set aside a few moments for daily rewards. Whether that’s buying an ice cream or a coffee and just sitting with them to decompress, acknowledgement of a job well-done should be recognized and rewarded.
The importance of respite care
Respite care can accomplish two goals in one for caregivers; it can provide them with relief from caregiving by tagging in others to assist, while making time for self-care. Respite care can take place at home, in a health care facility or at an adult day center.
Find local respite care programs by visiting the ARCH National Respite Locator Service. This tool allows users to search for local respite resources, including:
- State-sponsored programs
- Adult day care centers
- Home care services
- Services for veterans
Discussing residential care with an older adult
Transitioning from caregiving to a care facility often makes for a difficult and emotional decision.
Some older adults may want to move to a long-term facility because they cannot manage their home any longer. Others may not want to move, but may require more assistance and hands-on care.
Below are common signs that a person with dementia may need residential or long-term care, such as assisted living or a memory-care unit. These signs typically indicate that home support is no longer sufficient to ensure the person’s safety, well-being, or quality of life.
- Cognitive and behavioral decline: including severe memory loss, disorientation and wandering, unsafe behaviors like leaving the stove on and improper medication use, and agitation, aggression or paranoia.
- Physical and functional decline: including an inability to perform activities of daily living, frequent falls or unexplained bruises, incontinence that becomes unmanageable at home and the neglect of personal hygiene or medical conditions, such as not taking insulin or forgetting doctor visits.
- Frequent medical or behavioral crises: including repeated hospitalizations, emergency room visits, or episodes of delirium, unmanageable behavioral symptoms, such as wandering into traffic and aggression, and a failure to thrive despite in-home support services or respite care.
Find out if housing options are available locally to get the conversation started, so these options can be discussed together. It is in both parties’ best interests to devise a plan that works for everyone, especially the older adult.
Resources such as counseling and support, guidance from health care professionals and suggestions from local senior centers are available.
Namita Yende is a senior medical director & associate CMO with Blue Cross Blue Shield of Michigan. For more health tips and information, visit MIBlueDaily.com.
Photo credit: Getty Images
