You may need help taking care of a loved one with Alzheimer’s disease and not even realize it.
Alzheimer’s is progressive, and while you may have handled the situation without too much problem at first, the requirements of caretaking will become more and more demanding. As a result, you will become more and more stressed, and your ability to take care of your loved one—or yourself—will suffer.
Remember, you’re in this for the long haul. Statistics tell us that family caretakers in chronic situations often die before the one they’re caring for. Even if they don’t pass away, chronic stress takes its toll on family members.
But we at Stay at Home are in a great position to give you help in this situation. Even if you don’t want to be replaced as primary caretaker, we can give you a regular opportunity to relax, do something for yourself, or just catch up on sleep.
For instance, Alzheimer’s patients often become restless at night, getting up to wander around the home and waking the family member along the way. We have at least one Stay at Home caretaker who stays with the family five or six nights a week between 8 p.m. and 6 a.m., being with the patient at night so the family member can get some uninterrupted sleep.
Other Stay at Home caretakers will come in during the day, giving a family member the opportunity to get some things done, get out of the house alone, or take a nap. In fact, we find that with as little as four hours a day, three days a week, we can make a real difference for overstressed family members.
If this describes you, please get in contact. We’d love to explain how we can help.
Information for this post comes from Andy Houck, owner and administrator of Stay at Home of Loudon.