Caregiver Support

You are not alone, 44 million Americans care for a sick or elderly family member. Caregivers are often likely to die before the person they are caring for. It is important to build a network of support through family, friends, and seculare or religious support groups. It is helpful to have a plan in place if something were to happen to you, the primary caregiver. See Care Giver Emergency Guide.

10 Signs of Caregiver Stress

1. Denial about the disease and its effect on the person who's been diagnosed.
2. Anger at the person with the illness/disease and upset that people don't understand what they are going through.
3. Social withdrawal from friends and loss of interest in activities that once brought pleasure.
4. Anxiety about facing another day and what the future holds.
5. Depression begins to break their spirit and affects their ability to cope.
6. Exhaustion makes it nearly impossible to complete necessary daily tasks.
7. Sleeplessness caused by a never-ending list of concerns.
8. Irritability leads to moodiness and triggers negative responses and reactions.
9. Lack of concentration makes it difficult to perform familiar tasks.
10. Health problems begin to take their toll, both mentally and physically.

Courtesy of Alzheimer's Disease and Related Disorders Association.

Support is available through local support groups as well as on-line.  Most area Senior Centers offer respite services to give you time to rejuvinate.  Hospice is sometimes an option to give you assistance.  Also see Locate Assistance - Respite Services

Share:

«Back to Topics Index