Manage an Alzheimer’s Caregiver’s Depression (2)

You have to know there are others around more than willing to help you out. Such things can range from adult daycare to in-home assistance. You don’t have to do it all by yourself. Then, be sure to educate yourself. As Alzheimer’s progresses into the later stages, new skills will become required, and old skills will become more important. Make sure you’re prepared for this change.

It’s important to remember to not only take care of the patient, but to take care of yourself as well. Make sure you’re watching your diet and exercise, and you’re getting plenty of sleep. Give yourself time to do things you enjoy – maybe go out for a round of golf, or go shopping. Just find something isn’t related to being a caregiver. It’s ok to do things for yourself once in a while.

Look out for stress. Stress is the cause of more problems than people expect. The more stressed you are, the more likely you’re to become agitated, and the less likely you are to think clearly. Make sure you’re managing your stress appropriately. Maybe find something like yoga or meditation, or some other form of relaxation technique. The results you can get from following some techniques are insightful.

Be willing to accept changes that may occur in the patient. Sometimes, something may happen, and you alone will not be enough to take care of the situation. That’s ok. It’s ok for a caregiver to ask for help, and it should be willingly available.

Make sure all the legal and financial planning that can possibly be done is finished. If you haven’t already consulted an attorney, then consult one. Do whatever you possibly can, and it’ll free your mind.

As a final point, be realistic, and give yourself some credit. The situation may not be perfect, but you have to understand that you are doing everything in your power to help the patient, and because of it, that patient is living a better life than they usually would. Being a caregiver is not a simple task, and you deserve full credit just for doing it.