Hi Russell, Thank you for being available for questions. I am caring for my wife who was diagnosed with Alz a few year ago. I know many people in my support group go through times of stress. As the disease progresses I am doing more and more. I've heard about caregiver burnout and researched it some.
But do you have any tips on how to handle caregiver stress?
We currently have a nurse/caregiver coming to our home once a day, 5 days throughout the week. She is meant to help my mother-in-law take her medication and do general check-ups. My husband and I both work and have a teenager to care for. She tells us that the woman is very mean to her and treats her like a child she doesn't want to deal with. To my husband and I, the woman is very professional and kind. She keeps insisting we get someone else but no one else is currently available for the schedule we need. Is there a way around this? Will we have to find a new care provider through a company? This nurse comes from the local hospital.
In an ideal situation you will find a caregiver that everyone in the family is comfortable with. One of the advantages of using an agency is that they should be able to change out a caregiver as needed to find a good fit. It is important to realize that some care recipients resist care and may come up with different excuses to avoid it.
I hate to say this but my mother's mental health has gotten worse over the last few months and it has gotten to the point where I am becoming very frustrated. I snapped at her the other day and now I feel awful. She doesn't really even remember what happened but she was in tears over the ordeal. I feel a constant pressure to remember things for her while trying to remember my own things and my own children's things. I feel as if I have another child on my plate. I don't want to get like this. Is there a way to handle the frustration without taking it out on her? I know this is not her fault.
Thank you for your kind and understanding response. I have had others call me a monster. I think you are right, it is just stress building up. It does not help that I am sleeping very little most days and other days I am in bed until my kids get home from school.
I will give the post-it notes a try. I think if I just get some of the other stresses in life off my plate, my mother won't be the one who gets the brunt of my frustration.
Depression is one of the most underdiagnosed problems in this population, and one of the most treatable conditions when medications and counseling are used in combination. The first step is to identify the signs: A Hopeless outlook, Loss of interest, fatigue, anxiety, appetite changes, change in sleeping patterns - all can be indicators of a problem. Because these symptoms can also indicate other issues, it is important to rule out other factors before a diagnosis of depression is given. There are several simple screening tools which help us to identify what the problem can be.
Once diagnosed, medications and counseling are used to combat the symptoms.
Hi Russell, Thanks for helping out here! For new family caregivers, what is the best way to approach family dynamics to avoid conflict in the future?
Great info Russell!
Mark, hopefully that helps.