Taking Care of You
As a caregiver of someone with Alzheimer’s disease you will likely hear many words of advice that start or end with, “don’t forget to take care of yourself.” Hmmmm.. .supportive advice, but sometimes easier said than done. To be candid, depending on your situation, taking care of yourself may in fact be an ongoing challenge. But you can do some small things along the way to help yourself and your overall family. In the next few blog posts we will talk about ways to take care of the “Mental You”, the “Physical You” and even the “Guilty You”.
The Mental You
As a caregiver, one of the best things you can do for your mental health is to be as proactive as possible. Hearing the diagnosis of Alzheimer’s can be overwhelming in itself, but having to react to ongoing unknowns and constant surprises are much worse. Educate yourself on everything possible, starting with the disease and its progression. Continue reading “Taking Care of You – Part 1: The Mental You” »
Dementia is not a specific disease. It’s a broad term that describes a wide range of symptoms, including memory loss or thinking problems that are severe enough to interfere with daily life. Many conditions can cause dementia symptoms, including some that are reversible, such as thyroid problems and vitamin deficiencies. Alzheimer’s disease is the most common form of dementia, accounting for 60 to 80 percent of dementia cases. Alzheimer’s is progressive, which means the symptoms will worsen over time. There is no cure for Alzheimer’s and it’s the sixth leading cause of death in the U.S.
