Those caring for seniors with dementia must pay attention to their own needs, advises Steve Barlam, LivHOME's Chief Professional Officer. Striking a proper balance in key areas can help.
In LivHOME's latest episode of The Senior Care Podcast by LivHOME, Helping Those Who Care for Dementia Sufferers, Steve discusses the challenges facing those who care for seniors suffering from dementia, including Alzheimer’s disease. He suggests finding ways to balance caregiving efforts with the caregiver’s own needs in areas such as self care vs. care for the senior, safety vs. dignity, holding on vs. letting go, and doing it all vs. having others help out.
“The cognitive decline of a loved one can be exceptionally painful for those family members serving as caregivers. In addition to taking on new, demanding duties, family caregivers grapple with the emotional conflicts that arise when longstanding roles change and their own personal needs are set aside,” Barlam says.
He adds: “Caregivers must learn to strike a healthy balance between conflicting needs by setting aside time to care for themselves, bearing in mind the potential consequences of various choices, learning to let go of the way things used to be, and knowing when -- and how -- to seek outside help.”
The episode can be found at The Senior Care Podcast’s homepage, www.livhome.com/podcast.