Susie & Herman: A Story of Love and Caregiving
No disease is more tragic than dementia. There are no physical symptoms of this disease; no need for hospital stays, no need for intrusive chemical therapy; the mind just slowly slips away. Smith tells his story as a caregiver for Susie and Herman, his mother and stepfather, as they suffer from dementia. Often amusing and told in a comic vein, Smith shares meaning in his struggle to care for Susie and Herman, despite their ever-increasing disconnection from reality. Susie and Herman is intended
Susie & Herman: A Story of Love and Caregiving
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Managing Caregiver Stress in Fort Collins Colorado with In-Home Care
Article by Melanie Keech
With so many seniors choosing to live in their own homes rather than moving to senior care centers or assisted living facilities, it is becoming more common for family members to get involved in the day-to-day care of a senior. In fact, studies have shown that nearly one-fourth of all adults in America are now caring for a senior relative. Sometimes just one person provides this care; other times, senior care involves a team of people, perhaps including a hired home care aide. However, regardless of who provides the elder care, one issue is a constant possibility-caregiver burnout.
Dedicating time to senior care-whether it is for a family member or whether it is through employment at a senior care company-can be very rewarding. Caregivers bond with the seniors with whom they work, often becoming close friends. But, as time goes by, even the most devoted and loving caregiver can begin to experience stress. This is because many senior care aides tend to take better care of their companions than they do of themselves. And, if they let the stress take its toll for too long, these aides will get caregiver burnout.
Many caregivers do not notice when they are headed for caregiver burnout. So, here are some warning signs that aides can keep in mind. If a caregiver starts experiencing any of these, she may be feeling the stress of senior home care:
* Withdrawal from family or friends
* Discontinue doing activities that were previously enjoyed, such as knitting or bike-riding
* Difficulty sleeping at night
* Weight loss or weight gain
* Smoking or drinking more often or in larger quantities
* Becoming more irritable or emotional
* Getting frequent headaches or stomachaches
* Feeling resentful toward the senior or feeling as if you aren?t sure you want to provide care anymore
It is of great importance that senior caregivers be aware of these signs of stress so that they can take action to deal with them before they turn into caregiver burnout. Even better than that, though, is to work to avoid caregiver stress and burnout before they even happen. Here are some suggestions to keep the stress level low when providing senior home care:
* Do not be afraid to ask for assistance. Oftentimes, family members take on senior care alone with the belief that no one else will want to help. Try asking anyway-check with other family members, friends, and neighbors, or hire a caregiver.
* Make sure to take breaks. Use extra helpers to allow days or even weeks off from providing senior care.
* Eat a balanced diet and get exercise. By taking care of your body, you will be in better shape to take care of the senior.
* Do not skip your own care. Go to your doctor and dentist appointments regularly.
* Treat yourself. You deserve something for being a good caregiver-get a massage, grab a hot fudge sundae, or buy a new book.Providing senior care can be quite enjoyable-as long as the stress is managed.
For help with a senior loved one in the Northern Colorado area, including Fort Collins, Columbine and Loveland, visit http://www.caringsolutionsllc.com.
About the Author
Melanie has worked in health care for 30+ years as a Director of Health Information Management at several hospitals. She moved to Fort Collins in 1989 to help open Mountain Crest Hospital. While in Fort Collins, Melanie completed her masters in Human Resource Development from CSU and started working as a Program Evaluator for Federally Funded Substance Abuse Treatment Facilities. Melanie took her passion for holistic medicine and became certified as a nutritionist, herbalist, and health coach
Source: http://www.twcaregiving.info/archives/susie-herman-a-story-of-love-and-caregiving-3.html
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