Event Recap: Care for the Caregiver – Supporting Loved Ones with Dementia and Memory Loss

Family members, friends or other caregivers provide 83 percent of the help given to older adults in the United States. Further, nearly half of all caregivers who provide help to older adults do so for someone living with Alzheimer’s or another form of dementia.

Last month, I spoke at a special event that CVS Health hosted with the Alzheimer’s Association called “Care for the Caregiver: Supporting Loved Ones with Dementia and Memory Loss”. During this event, I heard some great advice about the importance of self-care for caregivers from the other panelists. I truly appreciated their great insights. These suggestions were especially pertinent for those helping people living with Alzheimer’s or other forms of dementia and memory loss. As someone who has been a caregiver myself, I’d like to pay it forward and share with you what I learned:

• Manage expectations – As a caregiver, it’s important to be realistic about what you can and can’t manage. You might be someone who used to enjoy a 5-mile hike on the weekends, but now you don’t have time, given your new set of responsibilities. Instead of exclusively prioritizing your loved one’s needs over your own, try meeting in the middle! It’s likely you can set aside time for a 30-minute walk around your neighborhood while also fulfilling your caregiving obligations. Your daily routine might look different, but it’s important to still prioritize your own mental and physical health to be an effective caregiver.
• Be open to honest conversations – Approximately 47% of caregivers are in the “sandwich generation,” meaning they’re caring for an aging parent and a child under the age of 18. While this can often feel stressful, don’t be afraid to let your family members, neighbors, spouse, and even employer know what you’re going through. Send a note to those close to you or have a conversation about the situation to let them know you might need some extra space to take of yourself. At the end of the day, we’re all human, and we should feel comfortable leaning on one another for support.
• Find your caregiving support group – More than 1 in 5 Americans are caregivers. With so many in a similar situation, you’re guaranteed to find people who understand what you’re going through and are willing to lend an ear or offer advice. Ask other caregivers their thoughts on how to tackle certain caregiving responsibilities, whether that be managing doctors’ appointments or making critical health care decisions for someone who is no longer able to do so. Sometimes a conversation to express challenges and frustrations is all you need to feel renewed on your caregiving journey.
• Know when to bring in additional resources – Whether or not your loved one lives with you, making the decision to add residential care or bring someone into your home for extra support is a difficult choice. As caregivers, we must recognize that it might not always be possible to continue to provide our loved ones with the care they need while balancing other priorities. Ask yourself – Is this person’s care needs beyond my physical capabilities? Am I becoming stressed and irritable in my everyday life? As caregivers, we often hesitate to lean on outside networks or residential care, but it can also be comforting to know your loved one is surrounded by people who can provide the care they need.

As a final reminder, don’t forget to be kind to yourself. Being a caregiver is not easy and you don’t have to do it alone. I hope these insights help you prioritize your own health and well-being in your caregiving journey.?