From the desk of Rosemary Laird, MD
Founder of Navigating Aging Needs
Shine Brightly, But Don't Flame Out!
As a caregiver, you need to be aware of the dangers and risks of your role, as taking on the additional burden and stress of caregiving can have tangible, negative health consequences. And if you aren’t healthy, you won’t be in a condition to help your loved one. Here is some important guidance on keeping healthy as a caregiver.
Managing Difficult Behaviors
Some of the most difficult challenges in caring for someone with Alzheimer’s disease and related disorders include times when your loved one becomes irritable, agitated, disoriented, and/or angry, and exhibits behaviors that are difficult to deal with such as wandering, or its opposite, clinging. Here are some coping strategies.
Caring for the Caregiver!
For most caregivers, learning that a loved one has a progressive memory loss disorder such as Alzheimer’s is a sudden signal that their lives are about to change, with tremendous responsibilities and difficult decisions ahead. But it’s also a signal that you need to ensure that you take care of your own well-being, too, so that you’ll be able to give the best care possible to your loved one in the coming years.