Where Do I Start?
It’s a natural question. Most of us don’t plan on becoming a Family Caregiver.
Learning about a loved one’s diagnosis with Alzheimer’s disease is a difficult moment. There are undoubtedly questions and worries about what this diagnosis means for your loved one. But most likely you also have questions about what this diagnosis means for you and your family and what type of care you will need to provide for your loved one.
From this point forward there will be many questions and new experiences.
No matter what you are faced with try this:
Educate yourself about the topic. Seek out expert opinions. Learn from others with experience.
Feel more empowered to make a difficult decision or take some action.
Ease caregiver stress through your planning and preparation.
For new Family Caregivers we recommend you focus on two key areas:
Medical
You’ll want to understand your loved one’s illness AND know the team of medical advisors you can work with in your role as a patient advocate.
Identify your loved one’s medical Team:
Establish your role and ability to discuss your Loved One’s care; know how to contact the physician in an emergency.
Have a discussion with the physician regarding the diagnosis and prognosis, the current care plan for Alzheimer's disease, any concerns about other health conditions or needs for other healthcare professionals.
Identify recommended resources for your loved one’s diagnosis such as mayoclinic.org or alz.org. Of course, www.nanforcaregivers.com, is available to you 24/7!
Family Caregiving
You’ll want to understand and clarify your role as a Family Caregiver. From there it will be critical to learn new skills that will help you be the best care advocate and partner to your loved one.
Unlike many illnesses that affect only the person with the illness, Alzheimer’s disease affects the whole family since the afflicted person will become less capable of caring for themselves. In the early stages the needs of your loved one may be minimal so that’s the best time to clarify what is likely needed in the future and how the family will care in the later stages.
Resources for your role as a Caregiver will be recommended to you by your NAN Navigator as part of your personalized assessment. You can also find many useful articles and videos with advice and knowledge in NAN’s RESOURCES area on the website. The goal of this content is to help you become confident and capable of ensuring your loved one is well cared for while at the same time protecting your own health and well-being.
