Getting Over Bumps In The Road
Getting over a road bump requires a new approach to your current situation.
Dear Caregivers,
It happens to every caregiver: Things are going along fairly smoothly, and then suddenly, you hit a bump in the road. It could be your loved one suffering a fall, or an infection that leads to a hospitalization, or simply the passing of your loved one into a new phase of Alzheimer’s.
A bump in the road typically means that you get knocked out of your usual caregiver routines. Perhaps you’ll need to find some temporary help, or see a new specialist, or modify your living situation. In any case it presents a new problem to solve, and a shift in how you are going about your daily life.
Getting over a road bump requires a new approach to your current situation. Here are some ideas:
Make “Staying Flexible” a Constant: As a caregiver, your life is undergoing continual change. Keep yourself open to the need to be continually adapting to an ever-changing landscape.
Be a Problem Solver: Understand that your challenge isn’t just to “get things back to the way they used to be”, but rather to find new ways of doing the things you need to do under new circumstances. Sometimes realizing that it’s about forging a new path forward that cultivates the change in attitude that you need to move ahead with confidence in this "new normal."
Take the Long View: A temporary road bump is just that – temporary! Unless it is an issue of personal safety, avoid the temptation to immediately react to a new situation. Sometimes that leads us to overreact. Think carefully about what this might mean for your Loved One going forward, and how that will affect your caregiving duties.
Focus on What’s Best for Your Loved One, Not You: Sudden changes are disruptive to the lives of both your loved one and yourself, but in the end what matters is how your loved one moves into this next phase of their condition. This may generate some additional hardships and inconveniences for you in the short term, but if in the long term it will be better for your Loved One, then recognize that, in the long term, it will also be better for you.
Get Help: No matter how self-sufficient you have been up to now, a disruption may be the time you need to bring in reinforcements, such as a helper, nurse, or other professional, family, or friend to help you get through this short-term phase. Your NAN Navigator can be a great resource for helping with this transition..
It’s not always easy to keep an even keel when a bump in the road knocks you out of your regular path. But with the right perspective and a little help from your friends, you can get through this with satisfaction.
Here’s some more guidance on dealing with setbacks:
Caregiver’s Plan B:
No family caregiver wants to think they wouldn't be able to help their loved one. But if something happens to you that would make it impossible for you to provide the care support you do now, it is critical that you identify an individual who is the best “Plan B” caregiver, able to quickly take over as advocate and guardian for your Loved One in the event that is needed. Having that “Plan B” in place is sure to give you greater peace of mind about coping with unpredicted changes, and thereby reduce your overall stress. Here’s how to create your caregiver Plan B.
Hospitalization Happens: Now What?
Being admitted to the hospital can be a stressful and confusing experience for both you and your loved one. Here are some key tips to employ before, during, and after a hospital stay.
Understanding Stages and Symptoms of Alzheimer's:
While Alzheimer's disease develops slowly over many years and every person has a unique path through the illness, there are some common symptoms. These collections of symptoms have been grouped into various stages of disease progression. Here’s a guide to what to expect.
Remember, if you can’t find the information you need on our website, you can always “Ask NAN” by clicking on this link.
Best,
Rosemary D Laird, MD, MHSA
Founder and Chief Medical Officer
“There will always be rocks in the road ahead of us. They will be stumbling blocks or stepping stones; it all depends on how you use them.”
— Friedrich Nietzsche
